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Ben Combe

@benjcombe.bsky.social

World’s OKest political staffer. Office Manager for Kevin McKenna MP. Campaigns Officer for the Jewish Labour Movement. He/him. Teller of bad jokes, player of bad games, reader of bad books. All opinions are mine, except the bad ones.

194 Posts191 Follower 364 Folgt

Jewish Labour Movement @jewishlabour.bsky.social · 14h ago

We support the Labour Party’s call on Green Groups in local government to condemn the ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion.

Ben Combe @benjcombe.bsky.social · 2d ago

Jeremy Hunt is the epitome of vibes-based politics. He feels like he would be a good Chancellor, but when actually did the job he paid for a pre-election tax cut by hiding £4bn of asylum costs off the government books and promised £18bn of cuts without saying where they'd come from.

James Austin@jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 2d ago

Bring back shame.

Jewish Labour Movement @jewishlabour.bsky.social · 2d ago

At PMQs, Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the House of Commons that he condemns the Green Party’s ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion as antisemitic. Burnham also said that the Labour Party cannot support a partnership with a party that holds an antisemitic position.

Ben Combe @benjcombe.bsky.social · 6d ago

Avatar: Seven Havens We have never been more back

Jewish Labour Movement @jewishlabour.bsky.social · last wk.

Congratulations and a well deserved win for Sagal Abdi-Wali on the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. 🎉🌹 Thank you to all of our members who were out knocking on doors on polling day and throughout the campaign.

Jewish Labour Movement @jewishlabour.bsky.social · last wk.

Today marks three years since the October 7th tragedy. Today, we remember all those who were lost, and take part in the collective mourning felt across our community.

Yachad @yachad.bsky.social · last wk.

Remembering October 7th, three years on.

Today marks 3 years since the devastating Hamas attacks on October 7th. It is hard to put into words how much has been lost since that day.

Today we mourn with everyone that is grieving, and stand with the many people whose lives were shattered, never to be the same again.

Tomorrow, we will rededicate ourselves to our mission: to support a political resolution to the conflict so Israelis and Palestinians can live in freedom, dignity and security, and never again experience the horrors of the last three years.

May the memory of all the lives lost be a blessing.

Jewish Labour Movement @jewishlabour.bsky.social · last wk.

We know what it takes to fight against antisemitism on the Left - and we will never shy away from that fight, join us. Jewish, Student or Ally join us today! www.jewishlabour.uk/membership

Yachad @yachad.bsky.social · last wk.

Our executive director, Hannah Weisfeld, on @tomswarbrick.bsky.social's @lbc.co.uk show yesterday discussing the Green Party adopting the motion 'Zionism is Racism'.

Yachad @yachad.bsky.social · 2w ago

Our Statement on the Green Party passing the motion 'Zionism is Racism' yachad.org.uk/statement-on...

The adoption by the Green Party conference yesterday of the 'Zionism is Racism' motion is a serious and deeply offensive outcome.

An overwhelming majority of British Jews, regardless of their views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, have now been told by the party that they are racists.

They are not simply being shut out of a political party; they are being asked to dissociate themselves from organised Jewish life in order to pass what is effectively an ‘acceptability test’.

Zionism is a fiercely debated and contested word. But for most British Jews, belief in Jewish peoplehood and self-determination is core to their Jewish identity, and this is what they understand to be the basic premise of Zionism.

It is why when Jews attend synagogue they pray facing Jerusalem, and why the concept of ‘Zion’ has been at the heart of Jewish communal life for two millennia.

Telling Jews they are acceptable only if they give up that understanding of collective Jewish identity, is not, as some have sought to explain it away, an attack on a political ideology. It is an attack on Jewish identity.

That is why, for most Jews across the political spectrum, yesterday's vote is deeply offensive and alienating. Jews do not need a political party to define Jewish identity on their behalf.

In any other context, a party telling a minority community what its identity may and may not include would be recognised, without controversy, as racist.

To be clear: there is a legitimate conversation to be had about the modern state of Israel, its policies and those of its successive governments, and the impact they have had on the lives and identity of Palestinians.

Yesterday's motion is not that conversation. It is a blunt tool that does the opposite of encouraging legitimate debate. It alienates Jews regardless of their views on the conflict or on Israel more widely, and it hands ammunition to those who want to paint all pro-Palestinian activism as illegitimate.

Instead of focusing the discussion on the real issues at hand: dispossession, violence and deep insecurity, the conversation has yet again been reduced to a war of words that will change nothing.

Yachad will continue to work to build the conditions for policy change that makes a real difference on the ground. Yesterday's motion has only made that work harder.

Ben Combe @benjcombe.bsky.social · 2w ago

My “we’re not antisemitic” t-shirt is raising a lot of questions already answered by my shirt

Jewish Labour Movement @jewishlabour.bsky.social · 2w ago

Our view of the Green Party following its Conference this weekend.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays)@sundersays.bsky.social · 2w ago

This is @jonathanfreedland.bsky.social in the Guardian on the many different Zionist approaches & arguments and what its essential core meaning is, ahead the "Zionism is racism" motion being debated by the Green Party. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Jewish Labour Movement @jewishlabour.bsky.social · 2w ago

Today marks one year since the terrorist attack on Heaton Park Synagogue. We remember Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz, who lost their lives while trying to protect the community. May their memories be a blessing.

Rachel Cunliffe @rmcunliffe.bsky.social · 2w ago

"The party has also said it would look closer at whether parents' earnings and savings should be factored into welfare payments for their children" So according to the Tories, it's wrong to means-test benefits for boomers... but totally fine to do so for their adult children children.

Conservatives pledge 'tough love' benefit rules for under-25s

The party says it would bring in new work requirements for young people claiming Universal Credit.

bbc.co.uk

Ben Combe @benjcombe.bsky.social · 2w ago

Former Reform Wales leader Dan Thomas is the one who started the Capita contract. You may know Capita from their starring role in the Civil Service Pensions scandal, and Dan Thomas from resigning in disgrace. Great to see them out of Barnet for good! www.barnetlabour.org.uk/2026/10/01/b...

Barnet Council ‘Takes Back Control’ as Capita contracts come back in-house - Barnet Labour Party - Barnet Labour Party

Barnet Council is taking back control after the era of mass outsourcing is coming to an end at the local authority. Under the Conservatives, Barnet adopted an ‘EasyCouncil’ approach where almost every...

barnetlabour.org.uk

Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 2w ago

The triple lock on the State Pension is a terribly designed policy that manages to both under-deliver and over-cost. The money saved from adjusting it could be far better spent elsewhere ⤵️ buff.ly/dviy5zU

David Willetts, President of the Resolution Foundation, said:
“The Prime Minister deserves credit for announcing what many politicians have been saying in private for some time – that the triple lock is unsustainable and needs to go. Continuing with the policy into the next parliament and beyond could end up costing tens of billions of pounds a year – money that could be far better spent elsewhere.”

Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 3w ago

Every private conversation in Westminster: "Well the triple lock obviously has to go at some point". Every commentator on Burnham: "completely mad to propose getting rid of triple lock - political suicide".

Jonn Elledge@jonnelledge.bsky.social · 3w ago

The BBC news summary this morning went seamlessly from "critics warn PM scrapping triple lock would be electoral suicide" to "critics ask if PM has nerve to make tough decisions" and I don't think it's a particularly pro Burnham stance to suggest he might not be the entire problem here.

Yachad @yachad.bsky.social · 3w ago

1/ We welcome the news that the E1 settlement project's tender deadline for 1,234 housing units has been postponed by Israel's Attorney General until after the election. www.timesofisrael.com/ag-postpones...

AG postpones tenders for E1 settlement project; Smotrich accuses her of election meddling

Baharav-Miara delays tender deadline until after Oct. 27 vote, citing electioneering concerns; far-right leader says process is apolitical, urges election chief to keep AG from becoming an ‘active pla...

timesofisrael.com

Ben Combe @benjcombe.bsky.social · 3w ago

Best day at the office

Kevin McKenna MP@kevinmckenna.co.uk · 3w ago

Been an office day in Sheerness today, so Soldier has been helping me out with casework and emotional support for constituents Which apparently requires extensive, liberal use of his ‘quacking’ (no it doesn’t sound like quacking it sounds like something else) duck as a therapeutic tool

Ben Combe @benjcombe.bsky.social · 3w ago

I've never read or watched anything about Theranos or anything Nathan Fielder's ever done but this movie looks amazing: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvW_...

You Can See Everything | Official Trailer HD | A24

YouTube video by A24

youtube.com

Yachad @yachad.bsky.social · 3w ago

1/ The "Zionism is Racism" motion, to be debated at the Green Party conference in Brighton on 2–4 October, and the literature produced to support it, are deeply troubling.

Jewish Labour Movement @jewishlabour.bsky.social · 4w ago

The Jewish Labour Movement wishes you well over the fast and a meaningful Yom Kippur. G’mar chatima tova ✡️

Torsten Bell @torstenbell.bsky.social · 4w ago

So much of the right these days have a massive patriotism problem. This guy: - is a tax exile (left long before this govt) - hates his own country while complaining he doesn’t get big enough subsidies from it - laments the manufacturing hit from a Brexit he supported www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK

Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.

bbc.co.uk

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 4w ago

More officers. Smarter tech. Record funding. Fewer places for phone thieves to hide.

Bar chart showing 'theft from the person' 42% lower, 'personal robbery' 33% lower, 'vehicle crime' 33% lower. Text above reads "Targeted policing is making a difference in Westminster. More officers and Sur-Ron e-bikes are helping cut crime across Westminster, with significant reductions in theft, including phone theft." Text below bar chart reads "Source: MOPAC analysis of MPS recorded crime data (12 months to August 2026 vs previous 12 months. London Datastore 02/09/2026. Recorded crime data is subject to future revision".

Jewish Labour Movement @jewishlabour.bsky.social · last mo.

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, we’d like to wish Shana Tova from all of us at the Jewish Labour Movement. We wish everyone a happy, healthy and sweet new year!

Yachad @yachad.bsky.social · last mo.

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg on @news.sky.com speaking out against the rampant settler violence he has personally witnessed. He represents another voice in the Jewish community stressing the necessity of the UK government taking action on Israeli settlements.

Ben Combe @benjcombe.bsky.social · last mo.

This is one of those extraordinary statements that says everything I wish I could articulate but couldn’t find the words for. Highly recommend reading it if you haven’t.

Jessica Elgot@jessicaelgot.bsky.social · last mo.

Statement from Progressive Judaism leaders - Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky “Holding an Israeli government accountable for its actions does not cause antisemitism. Antisemites cause antisemitism. progressivejudaism.org.uk/rabbi-charle...

Ben Combe @benjcombe.bsky.social · last mo.

Speaking for no one but myself, I find this kind of purity testing from (non-Jewish) Justin Webb somewhat antisemitic. Who is he to say what antisemitism means to any Jew?

Ben Dunnell@bendunnell.bsky.social · last mo.

What the absolute fuck is this line of questioning by Justin Webb? It’s worse than pure grandstanding; it’s querying Miliband’s faith.

Kevin McKenna MP @kevinmckenna.co.uk · last mo.

Masked thugs turning up to intimidate and cause disorder have no place on our streets. I am asking whether our laws are fit for purpose when it comes to groups that organise intimidation and disorder. Political disagreement is part of democracy. Violence and intimidation are not.