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# 📰 Our Fight Weekly | Labour hasn't found a vision, it's found a target
- URL: https://www.ourfight.uk/our-fight-weekly-labour-hasnt-found-a-vision-its-found-a-target/
- Published: 2026-09-11T08:00:46.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-11T08:00:45.000Z
- Description: This week we look at the UK government's more explicit anti-Israel turn and what it means for the growth of anti-Semitism in Britain. We also have exciting news about what we'll be doing at this year's Battle of Ideas conference in London in October. We hope you'll join us.
- Author: Our Fight

## Labour hasn't found a vision, it's found a target

At the end of last week, Ed Miliband issued a coolly-edited, vertical video—which if you don't know means it's aimed at Instagram and TikTok. It tracked him walking the corridors of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), talking about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. He spoke of drugs being blocked from entering Gaza, children dying because they were waiting for treatment, the death toll...and he placed the blame for it all on Israel alone.

It's true the situation is dire, and should concern us all. But as a senior government minister Ed Miliband should not be repeating tropes as if he has just come off a Palestine Solidarity Campaign march, and paying lip-service to the role of Hamas. All of the information he provided is at the very least contested, and often more than that—completely disproven: lorries of supplies being brought in, shipments of medicines, hundreds of people leaving Gaza for specialist treatment.

But not only was our Foreign Secretary sharing untruths, but he said in his video that he'd picked up this information in "stories" that he'd been told by people who had been on the ground in Gaza. And since he didn't say who the stories came from we've issued a Freedom of Information request to the FCDO to see if we can find out. They have 30 days to respond, and we'll be sure to let you know of the results.

And that was just the start; the week showed no signs of slowing down.

On Tuesday Ed spoke in Parliament about his 'reset' of the UK's relationship with Israel. His main announcement was of sanctions against settlers in the West Bank but he used his speech to hint strongly that Israel may be guilty of war crimes and genocide, and that they may have targeted civilians and children.

The Chief Rabbi said these statements would endanger British Jews. Miliband doubled down regardless, making media appearances to say he completely disagreed.

But perhaps the darkest part of the week came when Andy Burnham not only repeated his Foreign Secretary's tropes, but did so in the context of saying that he wants Britain to "stand for something". He had already said much the same at the end of July after his anointment, but whereas back then his vision to unite the country was to cap bus fares at £2 and introduce a "Number 10 North", this week his unifying vision was to attack Israel.

The Labour Party are not the first technocrats to run out of levers to pull and dials to turn. And so they are not the first to start flailing around for a "vision". But in a Britain that is bereft of *positive* ideas, they will inevitably reach for a negative one; one that is anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, and ultimately anti-Semitic.

The approach adopted by our government makes our task of building a campaign against anti-Semitism ever more urgent, but it also makes the need for our campaign clearer: *the ideas of reaction are now at the heart of our government*.

There has been much written this week on this disturbing development, but here are a few I think are worth your time:

- I wrote on my Substack about [what happens when politicians run out of spreadsheets and reach for Israel instead](https://markbirbeck.substack.com/p/when-managers-want-to-be-prophets).
- Gill Levy took a closer look on his Substack at [whether the two-state solution has actually been abandoned, or simply repeatedly refused](https://gilllevy.substack.com/p/who-killed-the-two-state-solution).
- Jake Wallis Simons wrote in *The Telegraph* about [the government's high-risk strategy pursuing sanctions against Israel](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/939cf6cb0ff5a2f6?ref=ourfight.uk).
- Melanie Phillips wrote on her Substack about [why she thinks Britain's sanctions mark the end of the UK-Israel relationship](https://melaniephillips.substack.com/p/an-ally-no-longer).

If you share our concern with the problem of anti-Semitism and the increased targeting and isolation of Israel, then please share this newsletter, [make a donation](https://www.ourfight.uk/support-us/#/portal/support), or better still—[become a member](https://www.ourfight.uk/support-us/#/portal/) and get involved with some of the activities you'll see below.

Today also marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11\. We remember all those who lost their lives, and everyone still living with what that day took from them.

Until we meet, a happy new year to those who are celebrating it.

Mark Birbeck  
Founder and Director  
Our Fight

## This past week

On Wednesday evening we stood outside Downing Street with Stop the Hate, in direct response to Miliband's statements.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/CCDF1ABC-8ED6-5635-B0F9-BAB09265D531.large.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/CFA0BD2F-8041-50C2-90A4-8E8F2DC4E32B.large.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/B2441CDE-CD4D-546B-B766-A764B833D06B.large.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/A7560CBA-C43C-59A1-A021-DDAAD172CED8.large.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/07A86154-51AC-5528-AB9A-981F2C539F0C.large.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/C44BFA2D-DE73-5B25-921A-7DED3F05DE59.large.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/4AA34B67-3A55-5374-87BD-8DA7C363A250.large.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/4E6669B0-0305-50CF-9EA3-1E1D4C2500D1.large.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/028A9C80-D80C-589A-B0FB-1691A4DC40BF.large.jpg)

Photos: Braham Cohen, Eve Kay, and Astrid

We've also submitted our Freedom of Information request asking exactly who briefed Miliband before he went on camera. It's public, and you can [follow along](https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/meetings%5Fbehind%5Fthe%5Fforeign%5Fsecr?ref=ourfight.uk).

> 📰 Who is telling Ed stories?  
>  
> Ed Miliband says medicines are "blocked" from Gaza and children are dying waiting for treatment—based on "stories" he heard in a meeting.  
>  
> We've submitted an FOI request to find out who was in that meeting, and what evidence—if any—was behind what… [pic.twitter.com/GhMXerASml](https://t.co/GhMXerASml?ref=ourfight.uk)
> 
> — OurFightUk (@OurFightUk) [September 8, 2026](https://x.com/OurFightUk/status/2097331746295419140?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=ourfight.uk)

Earlier in the week a number of us joined the **Cable Street Walking Tour,** which was both informative and inspiring. It was a great introduction to the history of the Battle of Cable Street, ahead of this year's 90th anniversary.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/2026/09/2972422F-D393-50DB-AC51-6B37ABCB9D3C.large-1.jpg)

## Coming up

Saturday, 3 October: Save the date for our **Rally Against Anti-Zionism**, in Brighton.

Sunday, 4 October: We'll be joining the [**Unite Cable Street Rally and March**](https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/events/the-battle-of-cable-street-90th-anniversary?ref=ourfight.uk), in London to commemorate the 90th anniversary.

Saturday-Sunday, 17-18 October: **Battle of Ideas**. Our Fight will have a stand and we will also be involved in a number of panel discussions. More details on the panels and a discount code if you would like to join us, are on our BOI page.

[Join us at the Battle of Ideas 2026The Battle of Ideas Festival has a solid reputation for being unafraid to debate the issues that matter. Our Fight will have a stand at the festival, and be involved in a number of the sessions. We’d love you to join us! Read on for details, including a special discount code.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/icon/favicon-5daf7b98-c38c-4137-8d73-46000873e5ab.ico)Our Fight: For Israel, Against Anti-SemitismOur Fight![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/thumbnail/boi-6a4453a6-d6d6-4391-aa2c-a93896366564.png)](https://www.ourfight.uk/join-us-at-the-battle-of-ideas-2026/)

Sunday, 1 November: **North London Friends of Israel's annual event.** The main speaker will be Josh Howie, with Mark Birbeck alongside.

Sunday, 17 January 2027: Save the date for our London conference and action hub, on the theme of **Never Again: Remaking the Promise**.

The Board of Deputies is organising other Cable Street-related events:

[Cable Street 90Explore Cable Street 90 from the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Learn about our work, resources, campaigns and community.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/icon/favIcon-d42c072c-6c2b-4eb3-aee4-532173434339.png)Board of Deputies of British Jews![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/f0/b8/f0b8221b-04e2-44a1-80aa-6bee05ed1ed6/content/images/thumbnail/Cable_Str_90_Lockup@4x-7d7cc6d0-4098-45d9-8166-6462b2f3d0ce.webp)](https://bod.org.uk/cable-street-90/?ref=ourfight.uk)

## For members

Our next catch-up meeting is Monday 14 September.

## We need your help

We're building a campaign of allies who recognise the threat posed by anti-Semitism, from whichever direction it comes.

If you want to be part of this then please become a paying member, and join our discussions and campaigning.

If you are able to support our work, please make a donation, or become a paying member.

[Support Us ](https://www.ourfight.uk/support-us/) 

##