Green activist criticised over heated BBC debate with Jewish journalist

A Green Party activist and professor, Ashok Kumar, clashed with Jewish journalist Rachel Cunliffe on the BBC’s Politics Live while discussing a motion describing Zionism as racism. The exchange drew criticism after Kumar accused Cunliffe of antisemitism when she challenged his remarks, and interrupted her as she tried to explain her response.

Labour Against Antisemitism criticised the BBC for inviting Kumar and said he had been allowed to attack a Jewish guest’s account of her identity and experiences. The BBC said it gives a range of political voices a platform and scrutinises their views. Kumar later said he did not support Hamas or condone violence against civilians; he described a social media post saying the programme’s participants “looked like they were about to cry” as a figure of speech.