The leader of Basildon Borough Council has issued a public apology after sharing an AI-generated video on social media that contained antisemitic lyrics. Gavin Callaghan, who represents the Pitsea South East ward, posted the video to his official Facebook page on Thursday, 2 April 2026, as part of a campaign message targeting Conservative opponents ahead of the local elections on 7 May 2026.
The video featured audio from an original 1995 recording of a Michael Jackson song, which included offensive terms. The content was edited to overlay the words “Jew” and “Kike” in bold text over photographs of Conservative councillors, including Cllr Phil Turner and Cllr Martyn Mordecai. The video remained online for approximately three hours before it was removed.
Mr Callaghan stated that he was completely unaware of the offensive nature of the lyrics at the time of posting and admitted he did not check the video adequately. He has since removed the post and issued a statement of apology via his social media account on X.
The incident has drawn significant criticism from local and national figures. Andy Barnes, leader of the Basildon Borough Council Conservative group, reported the matter to Essex Police. Additionally, Reform UK group leader Sam Journet noted that the post appeared during Passover, a major Jewish festival, describing the timing as deeply concerning.
Calls for disciplinary action have been made by several politicians. Conservative MP Richard Holden has urged the Labour Party to expel Mr Callaghan, arguing that failure to do so would undermine efforts to address antisemitism. Lord Pickles, co-chair of the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation, described the incident as appalling and suggested that the situation serves as a significant test for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding his party’s standards. As of 5 April 2026, the Labour Party has not announced any suspension for Mr Callaghan.
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