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Rachel Riley: 'I couldn't stay quiet during the Corbyn years'

The Countdown star also said she faced threats to her and her daughters because of her activism

August 22, 2023 13:48
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SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: Rachel Riley takes part in a Q&A session on August 18, 2023 in Southport, England. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)
1 min read

Riley Riley has spoken about her role in confronting Labour Party antisemitism during the Corbyn years saying “I just saw something bad happening and just couldn’t stay quiet."

Riley, who was recently awarded an MBE in the 2023 New Year’s Honours list for her work raising awareness of the Holocaust and combating antisemitism, also discussed the abuse she received.

Speaking on the Spinning Plates podcast with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, she said: “When they [Labour] were rejected and lost 80 seats [in the 2019 general election], it was a sigh of relief but on the same day, I got a message wishing my daughter stillborn. It [the abuse] took its toll.”

Riley went on to say: "I know there are some brilliant people in Labour now really determined to get rid of these bad actors. So it kind of took the pressure off a lot.”