Filmmaker Ken Loach describes himself as a ‘target’ for stress teams
F
ilmmaker Ken Loach has described himself as a goal for “unfounded abuse” from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) after the stress group condemned the BBC for working together with his manufacturing firm on a brand new characteristic movie.
The veteran director, 87, mentioned he trusts the BBC will deal with an “offensive” e-mail from Jewish campaigners “appropriately” after the group described him as a denier of antisemitism.
Loach’s firm Sixteen Films has partnered with BBC Film on an upcoming characteristic, believed to be set in Scotland, titled Downtrodden.
However, the CAA condemned the BBC for working with Loach’s manufacturing firm, describing the transfer as a “terrible lapse in judgment” after he was expelled from the Labour Party in 2021 throughout what he referred to as on the time a “purge” of Jeremy Corbyn allies.
Loach, who has lengthy been celebrated for his socially-critical movies, instructed the PA news company: “This is unfounded abuse from a pressure group. I have answered such allegations many times.
“There are important questions to put to the CAA when it makes these unpleasant attacks.
“They have a political agenda and they clearly do not represent all Jewish people, maybe only a minority.
“They never challenge me directly, simply seek to cause professional damage and personal distress.”
Loach described himself as a “target” for stress teams such because the CAA as he’s “known to be of the left” and likewise somebody “who supports Palestinian rights”.
He additionally vehemently denied serving as a producer on the venture, saying: “In this instance, the CAA has its facts wrong.
“I am not a producer of the film Downtrodden, nor involved in its production.
“Sixteen Films is a production company that works with several directors.”
His feedback come following an announcement from the CAA over the weekend, which learn: “Ken Loach has been just appalling in his antisemitism denial, not only during the years of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party, but long after the Equality and Human Rights Commission found evidence of illegal antisemitism and the Labour Party admitted it.
“Even the Labour Party has ditched him, so why would anyone think he’s still an acceptable partner for the BBC?”
The UK’s equalities watchdog discovered Labour was answerable for illegal acts of harassment and discrimination as the previous chief struggled to sort out antisemitism.
On Monday, Loach mentioned in “all matters of antisemitism” he takes recommendation from Jewish colleagues, which embrace senior teachers who’ve written extensively on the topic, who’ve skilled antisemitism and perceive it.
He mentioned: “They have written many times in my support and continue to do so.
“Unlike the casually offensive language of the CAA, their rigorous examination of these issues will withstand any scrutiny.
“I share their views that there is racism, including antisemitism, in all parties, but that in the Labour party it was weaponised to undermine Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, the left in general, and to inhibit criticism of Israel.”
In 2016, Loach directed I, Daniel Blake which received the Bafta Award for Outstanding British Film for depicting a person’s battle with the welfare system.
The BBC has been contacted for remark.