Labour Council Leader Faces Police Report Over Antisemitic Social Media Video
The leader of a Labour council has been reported to the police following the posting of an antisemitic video on his official social media account. Gavin Callaghan, who serves as the leader of Basildon Borough Council, issued a humiliating public apology after the controversial video emerged on his Facebook page.
Controversial Video Features Offensive Lyrics
The video, titled 'Back Basildon Stop Reform', was set to the music of Michael Jackson's 1996 track 'They Don't Care About Us'. This particular song has faced significant criticism over lyrics containing phrases such as 'Jew me, sue me' and 'kick me, kike me', leading Jackson to eventually re-record the track with modified words.
However, the version posted by Councillor Callaghan featured the original, unedited lyrics. These offensive terms were displayed in bold text superimposed over headshots of Conservative councillors serving on Basildon Borough Council. The video carried the official Basildon Labour logo and included a caption warning about potential Conservative control if Reform UK gained sufficient seats in upcoming elections.
Immediate Police Involvement and Political Fallout
After being alerted to the video by a concerned member of the public, Andy Barnes, the Leader of Basildon Conservatives, promptly reported the incident to local police authorities. Barnes expressed profound disappointment, stating that Callaghan appeared to have given no consideration to the hurt and distress such content would cause within the Jewish community, particularly during a period of increasing hostility and attacks.
Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay, Richard Holden, called directly on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to remove Callaghan from the party immediately. Holden described the video as 'antisemitic bile' and challenged Starmer to demonstrate his commitment to rooting out anti-Jewish hatred within Labour ranks.
High-Profile Condemnation and Historical Context
Lord Pickles, co-chair of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, labelled the councillor's actions 'absolutely appalling' and 'inexplicable'. He suggested that Starmer now faces a crucial test of leadership, indicating that if Callaghan remained a Labour Party member beyond twenty-four hours, it would demonstrate insincerity in addressing antisemitism.
This incident represents not the first controversy surrounding Callaghan's public statements. In 2019, he made disparaging remarks about former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on public record, suggesting he was not an inspiring figure 'because he's a cross-dresser'.
Apology and Explanation
Callaghan posted an apology on social media platform X, acknowledging he had used artificial intelligence to create the video but claimed he was 'completely unaware' it contained antisemitic lyrics. He admitted failing to adequately review the content before posting and stated he removed the video immediately upon realisation.
In his statement, Callaghan emphasised that antisemitism has no place in society and expressed deep regret for unknowingly sharing offensive material. He accepted responsibility for not being more cautious with AI technology and promised to learn from this significant mistake.
The video remained publicly accessible for approximately three hours before being taken down. The incident has sparked broader conversations about political responsibility, the ethical use of emerging technologies, and the ongoing challenge of combating antisemitism within British political discourse.
