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  "path": "/politics/reform-uk-arts-chief-compare-nazi",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-11T07:39:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Reform-run council pledges to recite Lord's Prayer and sing national anthem before meetings",
    "Inside Reform's election war room with the ex-Tory MP who is hoping to tear down the establishment",
    "John Swinney vows to ‘lock Reform out’ after admitting Nigel Farage ‘on course to become PM’",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nThe chairman of the Southbank Centre has been branded a \"crass moron\" after he faced accusations of drawing parallels between Reform UK voters and supporters of the Nazi regime.\n\nMisan Harriman, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker who chairs London's largest arts venue, sparked controversy through an Instagram video posted in response to recent local election results.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIn the footage, the photographer described Reform UK's growing electoral success as \"a warning\" whilst referencing historical discussions about the Third Reich's ascent to power.\n\nThe Southbank Centre chairman's remarks have drawn fierce criticism from Jewish organisations and senior political figures, whilst others have rallied to his defence.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nRobert Jenrick, Reform's Treasury spokesman, branded the comparison \"disgusting\".\n\nHe told the Daily Mail: \"Comparing the millions who voted Reform on Thursday to the Nazis is disgusting. This crass moron should be nowhere near a taxpayer-funded organisation.\"\n\nThe Instagram clip featured Harriman quoting a conversation between Holocaust survivor Susan Sontag and American novelist Kurt Vonnegut concerning the Nazis' rise during 1930s Germany.\n\nMs Sontag had observed: \"Some 10 per cent of any population is cruel, no matter what, and 10 per cent is merciful, no matter what, and the remaining 80 per cent can be moved in either direction.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nMr Harriman characterised this observation as \"really topical\" given the recent council election outcomes.\n\nHe said: \"The surge of Reform is real. It is a surge, and it should be a warning and a rallying call at the same time.\"\n\nHe added that Reform voters were \"not devils\" but had been influenced by \"certain newspapers\" and \"certain charlatans.\"\n\nJewish organisations responded with condemnation of Harriman's remarks.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Reform-run council pledges to recite Lord's Prayer and sing national anthem before meetings\n  * Inside Reform's election war room with the ex-Tory MP who is hoping to tear down the establishment\n  * John Swinney vows to ‘lock Reform out’ after admitting Nigel Farage ‘on course to become PM’\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFiona Sharpe from Labour Against Antisemitism demanded his removal from the Southbank Centre.\n\nShe said: \"Whatever his political views are, to diminish the systematic state-sponsored murder of six million Jews, just for being Jews, in this particular climate in Britain, is abhorrent.\"\n\nKaren Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, expressed shock at the comparison, questioning how election results could ever be likened to \"the mechanised state-sponsored murder of six million Jews by Nazis and their collaborators.\"\n\nDespite the backlash, several prominent figures voiced support for the filmmaker.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nFaiza Shaheen, who leads Tax Justice UK, declared her \"absolute solidarity with the incredible Misan Harriman.\"\n\nMr Harriman maintained his comments had been misrepresented, explaining he had referenced the Ms Sontag-Vonnegut exchange to discuss \"human behaviour and how we can build community in the lead-up to the next general election.\"\n\nThe Southbank Centre, which houses the Royal Festival Hall and recently secured £10million from Arts Council England, issued a statement condemning antisemitism whilst noting that individual board members' personal opinions do not represent the institution.\n\nA spokesman said: \"The Southbank Centre condemns all forms of anti-Semitism, hatred and discrimination. The personal views of individual members of our board do not represent the views of the Southbank Centre.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Arts chief branded 'crass moron' after 'comparing Reform voters to Nazi supporters'"
}