In a significant development following the Armistice Day pro-Palestine march in London, Metropolitan Police are questioning a former Labour Party activist, Kate Varnfield, 66, for displaying a controversial placard. The sign depicted the Star of David intertwined with a Nazi swastika, a symbol that has sparked widespread condemnation and allegations of antisemitism.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that both a man and a woman are currently being questioned at a Sussex police station concerning the incident. Varnfield was seen holding a placard at the rally with the provocative image and the phrase: ‘No British politician should be a ‘friend of Israel‘.
Terry Varnfield, Kate’s 73-year-old husband, defended the placard, stating that it was an innocent reference to a 1970s UFO religion and was taken out of context. He explained that the symbol used was related to Raelism, a movement that combines the Star of David and the Swastika to signify peace and love. However, this explanation has done little to quell the controversy.
The incident occurred amidst a series of displays at the rally that the police are investigating as potential hate crimes. The image of the placard, widely shared on social media, has been vehemently criticized for its apparent antisemitic connotations.
Labour Party sources reported that Kate Varnfield joined the Eastbourne Constituency Labour Party around the time Jeremy Corbyn became the party leader. She was active for about 18 months before leaving the area. In November 2021, Varnfield left the Labour Party, and her social media posts suggested imminent expulsion due to her support for controversial groups like Labour Against The Witchhunt.
In a letter that has since become public, Varnfield harshly criticized current Labour leadership and expressed strong views on the party’s internal policies regarding free speech and antisemitism.
Her profile on Quora, a popular Q&A website, reveals numerous posts about Palestine, where she has expressed views critical of Israel.
This development has attracted attention at the highest levels, with figures such as former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemning the scenes at the march. The rally, attended by an estimated 300,000 people, has become a focal point for discussions on antisemitism, freedom of expression, and the boundaries of political protest.
The Metropolitan Police’s investigation into this matter is ongoing, and further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.
