Rachel Riley accused of ‘prostituting’ her Judaism in order to attack Corbyn
Suspended Labour member trolled Countdown on Twitter, saying what Israel does in the name of God is 'pure satanic'
Joe Millis is a journalist
A suspended Labour party member trolled Countdown presenter Rachel Riley on Twitter, accusing her of “prostituting” her Jewish heritage.
She was also told her campaign against anti-Semitism in Jeremy Corbyn’s party was ‘poisoning the memory of your ancestors’.
Bob James has now been suspended by the party over the series of offensive tweets aimed at Riley, according to the Mail on Sunday.
James’s tweets include comparing the state of Israel to the Nazis and saying: “Israel is using the Holocaust as an excuse for murder.”
It has been revealed that in December he told Riley: “You have prostituted your religion, poisoning the memory of your ancestors who suffered greatly.”
James later tweeted: “Judaism is a religion but what Israel does in the name of God is pure Satanic.”
Rachel Riley accused of 'prostituting her religion' by @UKLabour activist in abhorrent rant
– @BobJamesCo accused the TV presenter of “poisoning the memory of your ancestors” after she was vocal about #LabourAntisemitism.@MarkTamiMP @RachelRileyRRhttps://t.co/yJpHef5Xi1— LAAS (@LabourAgainstAS) March 31, 2019
In January, Mr James, of Alyn and Deeside constituency Labour Party, wrote: “I think Riley is using her influence as a popular celebrity to undermine the Labour party. Her method, though, using her Jewish heritage to promote self-interest, is appalling.”
He added: “Riley has been open about her dislike of Corbyn… You have to hand it to the Tory party for getting her to risk her career for 30 pieces of silver.”
Riley responded: “Are you an official Labour spokesperson, Bob, or just a big cheerleader?”
James has admitted sending numerous messages to Riley and confirmed he had been suspended by the party. He denied being anti-Semitic and accused the presenter of “using her religion to promote anti-socialism”.
Labour said that although it would not comment on individual cases, it takes “all complaints of anti-Semitism extremely seriously and we are committed to challenging and campaigning against it in all its forms.”
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