Joseph Finlay
@josephfinlay.bsky.social
Historian of British Jews and race relations. Composer and Musical Director. Socialist and דאָיִקער
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
The BBC is in crisis in the same way that GB News would be if you put Owen Jones on the board armed with a veto and plenty of coffee.
November 11, 2025 at 7:48 AM
The BBC is in crisis in the same way that GB News would be if you put Owen Jones on the board armed with a veto and plenty of coffee.
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
This is the ‘leaked memo’ that seems to have led to the BBC resignations. It’s just a right wing diatribe. Reads like an AI report fed on Telegraph columns. archive.is/202511101254...
archive.is
November 10, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This is the ‘leaked memo’ that seems to have led to the BBC resignations. It’s just a right wing diatribe. Reads like an AI report fed on Telegraph columns. archive.is/202511101254...
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
Reality has a well-known liberal bias, which is why the rightwing crusade to ignore reality as much as possible is so determined.
We are forever told that the BBC has a leftist bias, but everyone in the BBC from journos (just now a former Sun editor) to managers (Gibb, Davie, etc) seems to have past links with the right. Where are those all powerful lefties?! #r4today
November 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reality has a well-known liberal bias, which is why the rightwing crusade to ignore reality as much as possible is so determined.
In a sane country (far off I know) when the culture secretary is asked about BBC matters they would answer: I make no comment, the BBC is wholly independent of government and that’s the way it should be.
November 9, 2025 at 7:39 PM
In a sane country (far off I know) when the culture secretary is asked about BBC matters they would answer: I make no comment, the BBC is wholly independent of government and that’s the way it should be.
And how long before someone styles themself ‘Judaism-critical’ and seeks legal protection for their views? They might say that they harbour no hatred for Jews, they are simply opposed to ‘Jewish supremacy’ or ‘Semitism’.
This is how transphobia's right wing fuckery blew open basic respect in the UK, there is absolutely no reason to expect now that being "women critical" is not also a protected belief, if you truly do not believe that women should just be reproductive slaves for cis men.
This will be used to abuse.
This will be used to abuse.
November 9, 2025 at 10:29 AM
And how long before someone styles themself ‘Judaism-critical’ and seeks legal protection for their views? They might say that they harbour no hatred for Jews, they are simply opposed to ‘Jewish supremacy’ or ‘Semitism’.
I’m old enough to think that goat refers to Gordon Brown’s short-lived ‘Government of all the talents’
November 9, 2025 at 8:19 AM
I’m old enough to think that goat refers to Gordon Brown’s short-lived ‘Government of all the talents’
I think if the state releases you by mistake and they can’t find you, after a certain amount of time they should be like ‘ok fair enough, well played’ and grant you an amnesty.
November 8, 2025 at 11:28 PM
I think if the state releases you by mistake and they can’t find you, after a certain amount of time they should be like ‘ok fair enough, well played’ and grant you an amnesty.
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
How to end Israeli apartheid
Install a caretaker government, abolish unjust laws, disarm militias: a new book lays out a roadmap for a democratic future in Israel-Palestine.
www.972mag.com/from-aparthe...
Install a caretaker government, abolish unjust laws, disarm militias: a new book lays out a roadmap for a democratic future in Israel-Palestine.
www.972mag.com/from-aparthe...
How to end Israeli apartheid
Install a caretaker government, abolish unjust laws, disarm militias: a new book lays out a roadmap for a democratic future in Israel-Palestine.
www.972mag.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:42 PM
How to end Israeli apartheid
Install a caretaker government, abolish unjust laws, disarm militias: a new book lays out a roadmap for a democratic future in Israel-Palestine.
www.972mag.com/from-aparthe...
Install a caretaker government, abolish unjust laws, disarm militias: a new book lays out a roadmap for a democratic future in Israel-Palestine.
www.972mag.com/from-aparthe...
Geoffrey Bindman ז׳׳ל. A legend, and one of the Jews who did a great deal for the anti-racist cause in Britain. www.bindmans.com/news-insight...
In remembrance of Sir Geoffrey Bindman | Bindmans
We are very sorry to announce the death of our founder, Sir Geoffrey Bindman on 4 November 2025 at the age of 92.
www.bindmans.com
November 6, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Geoffrey Bindman ז׳׳ל. A legend, and one of the Jews who did a great deal for the anti-racist cause in Britain. www.bindmans.com/news-insight...
How long before ‘but Disraeli was Black’ discourse starts
November 5, 2025 at 5:02 PM
How long before ‘but Disraeli was Black’ discourse starts
It’s heartening that all the worst pro-Israel and right wing elements of the US Jewish community threw everything they had at Mamdani and it made absolutely no difference. Hopefully they will be ignored in future.
November 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
It’s heartening that all the worst pro-Israel and right wing elements of the US Jewish community threw everything they had at Mamdani and it made absolutely no difference. Hopefully they will be ignored in future.
Interesting that the UK Jewish press, which is not exactly slow to cover antisemitism, has not yet mentioned this story.
Didn’t take long for Reform to start attacking Polanski in antisemitic ways. The article misses it but the reference is more to Svengali, the Jewish stereotypes character from George Du Maurier’s 1894 novel.
"Reform UK in Brighton has been accused of antisemitism after a now-deleted AI-generated image depicting Green Party leader Zack Polanski [as a demonic manipulator] was shared on Facebook"
www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
November 4, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Interesting that the UK Jewish press, which is not exactly slow to cover antisemitism, has not yet mentioned this story.
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
He writes the Torat Albion newsletter and is currently writing a book on Jews and race relations in postwar Britain for Manchester University Press. He will be writing about antisemitism and its instrumentalisation for Vashti. 2/2
November 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM
He writes the Torat Albion newsletter and is currently writing a book on Jews and race relations in postwar Britain for Manchester University Press. He will be writing about antisemitism and its instrumentalisation for Vashti. 2/2
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
Contributing writers - @josephfinlay.bsky.social is an historian, writer, and musician, who specialises in British Jewish history and culture, issues of Jews and race, and Jewish engagements in empire. 1/2
November 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Contributing writers - @josephfinlay.bsky.social is an historian, writer, and musician, who specialises in British Jewish history and culture, issues of Jews and race, and Jewish engagements in empire. 1/2
Reposted by Joseph Finlay
We're excited to announce the addition of four contributing writers, whose reporting and analysis will deepen our Jewish left, anti-Zionst commitments and will be essential reading for the left at large in this time of genocide and ascendent fascism.
t.co/F8nQNtQY3m
t.co/F8nQNtQY3m
https://www.vashtimedia.com/who-we-are/#contributing-writers
t.co
November 4, 2025 at 6:52 PM
We're excited to announce the addition of four contributing writers, whose reporting and analysis will deepen our Jewish left, anti-Zionst commitments and will be essential reading for the left at large in this time of genocide and ascendent fascism.
t.co/F8nQNtQY3m
t.co/F8nQNtQY3m
Seems a reasonable decision. Were no other cantors available? www.thejc.com/news/world/a...
Amsterdam concert hall cancels Chanukah show because singer is IDF’s chief cantor - The Jewish Chronicle
Concertgebouw director Simon Reinink said that allowing Shai Abramson to perform would be ‘against our mission’
www.thejc.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Seems a reasonable decision. Were no other cantors available? www.thejc.com/news/world/a...
He’s amazingly good at this
Today is only the beginning.
Our time has come, New York. Our time is now.
Our time has come, New York. Our time is now.
Today is only the beginning.
YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:09 PM
He’s amazingly good at this
Didn’t take long for Reform to start attacking Polanski in antisemitic ways. The article misses it but the reference is more to Svengali, the Jewish stereotypes character from George Du Maurier’s 1894 novel.
"Reform UK in Brighton has been accused of antisemitism after a now-deleted AI-generated image depicting Green Party leader Zack Polanski [as a demonic manipulator] was shared on Facebook"
www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
www.lbc.co.uk/article/refo...
Reform UK accused of 'echoing Nazi propaganda' with 'antisemitic' Ai-generated picture of Green Party leader Zack Polanski | LBC
A wing of Reform UK has been accused of antisemitism after a now-deleted AI-generated image depicting Green Party leader Zack Polanski was shared on Facebook.
www.lbc.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Didn’t take long for Reform to start attacking Polanski in antisemitic ways. The article misses it but the reference is more to Svengali, the Jewish stereotypes character from George Du Maurier’s 1894 novel.
I predict that Reform's move towards neoliberalism and austerity economics will be the end of its popular surge.
November 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM
I predict that Reform's move towards neoliberalism and austerity economics will be the end of its popular surge.
Constitutionally, what would happen if it was not a prince but the king/queen who had committed crimes? Who would be responsible for sanctioning them/removing their title?
October 31, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Constitutionally, what would happen if it was not a prince but the king/queen who had committed crimes? Who would be responsible for sanctioning them/removing their title?
I don’t think the Palestine movement should campaign against academics who served in the IDF 40 years ago. But I don’t think Michael Ben-Gad is making the best case for himself when he goes on GB News and says that he is proud of that service and sees it as having defended his people.
October 28, 2025 at 7:06 AM
I don’t think the Palestine movement should campaign against academics who served in the IDF 40 years ago. But I don’t think Michael Ben-Gad is making the best case for himself when he goes on GB News and says that he is proud of that service and sees it as having defended his people.
I went to this exhibition recently, highly recommended. The first exhibition on empire and decolonisation at a major a British museum that I can recall www.iwm.org.uk/events/emerg...
Emergency Exits: The Fight for Independence in Malaya, Kenya and Cyprus
At the end of the Second World War, a wave of independence movements swept the British Empire. Emergency Exits focuses on three often overlooked independence movements. These were brutal conflicts bet...
www.iwm.org.uk
October 27, 2025 at 7:41 PM
I went to this exhibition recently, highly recommended. The first exhibition on empire and decolonisation at a major a British museum that I can recall www.iwm.org.uk/events/emerg...
I suggest we take this as a win, in line with my general philosophy that you should welcome people when they move towards your side, rather than condemn that for being late to the cause / not going far enough.
"I wouldn’t want to be 5,000 miles anywhere near the Netanyahu regime."
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke says he would not now perform in Israel eight years after the band defied boycott calls to play a gig in Tel Aviv.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/nhcg5r
Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke says he would not now perform in Israel eight years after the band defied boycott calls to play a gig in Tel Aviv.
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.io/nhcg5r
October 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
I suggest we take this as a win, in line with my general philosophy that you should welcome people when they move towards your side, rather than condemn that for being late to the cause / not going far enough.
Just listened to the Theroux-Vylan podcast. Vylan comes across well, and certainly not antisemitic. He rightly questions what are counted in antisemitism statistics. Interestingly at one point he declares himself a Pan-Africanist, but Theroux completely fails to follow up on it.
October 26, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Just listened to the Theroux-Vylan podcast. Vylan comes across well, and certainly not antisemitic. He rightly questions what are counted in antisemitism statistics. Interestingly at one point he declares himself a Pan-Africanist, but Theroux completely fails to follow up on it.