Brexit Party MEPs were condemned for appearing on The Richie Allen show - but human rights campaigner says its listeners 'will never change unless they hear a different viewpoint'
August 20, 2019 10:39
Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has defended appearing on a radio show linked to conspiracy theorist David Icke that has been accused of promoting Holocaust denial.
Mr Tatchell, who is among the country's most high-profile activists, is one of the surprisingly prominent campaigners and politicians to have appeared on The Richie Allen Show, which used to be broadcast on Mr Icke's website and has hosted Holocaust deniers.
Mr Icke promotes conspiracy theories including that of “Rothschild-Zionism”, a supposed “secret society putting its agents in places of power”.
Labour MP Alex Sobel has called Mr Icke and Mr Allen “fomenters of antisemitic thought”.
The Board of Deputies said this week that potential guests "should stay far away" from the show after it emerged two Brexit Party MEPs, including Ann Widdecombe, appeared on it.
The JC established that, as well as Mr Tatchell, other guests included Ukip Welsh Assembly member Neil Hamilton, former Tory MP Edwina Currie and former Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming.
Mr Tatchell has been a repeat guest, most recently joining Mr Allen to discuss the sacking of Australian Rugby Union star Israel Folau over homophobic comments.
But he defended his decision, telling the JC: "I don't think it is wise to ignore or dismiss the audiences of right-wing media. They will never change unless they hear a different viewpoint.
"It's important to challenge bigotry, present alternative ideas and, hopefully, win over some of the listeners.
"That's why I spoke to The Sun newspaper, even during its homophobic heyday. I've been on the Richie Allen show to defend trans people and to speak out against the alt-right and conspiracy theorists.
"Anyone who listened to my contributions would realise that I was opposed to far right views and advocated a liberal and left-wing perspective."
The Richie Allen Show bills itself as “the most listened-to independent news radio show in Europe” that broadcasts "information the mainstream media won’t touch”.
His more prominent guests have appeared alongside a parade of anti-vaxxers, UFO-believers and 9/11 truthers.
They include climate change denier Piers Corbyn; neo-Nazi and former Young BNP chairman Mark Collett; and Gilad Atzmon, the notorious antisemite who has challenged Holocaust denial legislation and claimed “Jerusalemites” were responsible for the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Alison Chabloz, a Holocaust denier who was convicted in 2018 for posting two “grossly offensive” antisemitic videos, including material mocking Shoah victims, has also appeared.
Mr Hamilton, the Ukip Assembly Member and then-Welsh Assembly leader for the party, appeared on the show in 2018 to criticise David Cameron and George Osborne and accuse the Remain campaign of corruption.
Mr Hamilton was recently reprimanded by the Welsh children’s commissioner for a Twitter attack on teen climate activist and Nobel Prize nominee Greta Thunberg.
Other Ukip-affiliated guests have included the party's founder Alan Sked and hereditary peer Christopher Monckton, Ukip's former party president in Scotland.
Former MP and broadcaster Ms Currie joined Mr Allen to talk about antisemitism in Labour. Former Birmingham Lib Dem MP Mr Hemming discussed so-called “forced adoptions” on a 2016 episode.
Fellow Lib Dem and previous Home Office Minister of State Norman Baker, who has suggested weapons inspector Dr David Kelly was murdered, was also a guest.
Mr Allen’s guests have also included elected officials from the US, including current Virginia State Senator Richard Black; and Catherine Austin Fitts, Assistant Secretary of Housing in the George Bush Sr. administration.
Board of Deputies President Marie van der Zyl said: "Politicians of all stripes should stay far away from this show which has hosted Holocaust deniers, praised antisemites and has links to the notorious connoisseur of antisemitic conspiracy theories, David Icke."
