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.”

She also recalled a moment meeting Holocaust survivors and Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis at a charity honours event.

Riley added: “At the Holocaust Survivors Centre, they had a cream tea and there were a few survivors and people in the Jewish community being awarded in the honours, and we got to go there.

Rachel Riley

Rachel Riley receiving her MBE for services to Holocaust Education at Windsor Castle (Photo: Getty)

“My teeny tiny contribution just pales in comparison, but at that event, the Chief Rabbi stood up and said some words about what it meant to the Jewish community and people in general for my contribution, and I was so moved and so touched.

“And actually when I do charity events and go and meet Jewish people I just get individual stories of 'you helped my son with this thing, with this fight that he was having, and it was so stressful for him and it really made a difference', or 'you empowered my daughter to stand up to something that she experienced at school, and you know other secular Jews that didn’t quite know where they fit so that she really looks up to you.'

“It’s really lovely and it’s had a personal impact on so many individuals and that really means the world. It means I did something and I stood up for something.”

Riley also said that when it comes to antisemitism, speaking out has to be a conscious choice. She said: "It’s a lot safer just to keep your head down, keep your mouth shut.”

"I try to appreciate that someone else has a different opinion about something. That doesn’t mean I have to write them off as a person. 

“You don’t have to like everyone. You don’t have to hate everyone either.”