Margaret Hodge’s 2019 Ballot Spoiling to Label Jeremy Corbyn an Antisemite

In the 2019 general election, former Labour MP and current peer Margaret Hodge entered the polling station in Jeremy Corbyn’s Barking constituency and deliberately invalidated her vote, writing “antisemite” across the ballot paper. She recounts the episode in her memoir *Battleaxe*, describing the day as “gruesome” and stating that she could not, in good conscience, support Corbyn. Hodge added that she had pledged to use any parliamentary leverage to block a Corbyn premiership, including voting against him in a confidence motion or opposing his first budget.

The Independent

Hodge’s opposition to Corbyn stretches back to the early 1980s, when she first met him as leader of Islington Council. She later recalled viewing him as a “harmless, disorganised nonentity” before the party’s internal battles over the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism intensified. In July 2018, after Labour’s National Executive Committee adopted a definition aligned with Corbyn’s stance, Hodge told two fellow MPs she intended to confront Corbyn directly, describing him as an “antisemitic racist.” She later met Corbyn outside the Commons chamber, reiterating that his actions, not his words, convinced her of his alleged antisemitism.

The Independent

A spokesperson for Jeremy Corbyn responded that his leadership transformed Labour into a mass movement confronting economic injustice and all forms of racism. The spokesperson characterised Hodge’s accusations as “baseless smears and personal abuse,” insisting that the allegations were “demonstrably false” and that Corbyn would continue to advocate for a more equal and inclusive society.

The Independent

Hodge’s public admission underscores the depth of the antisemitism controversy that plagued Labour during Corbyn’s tenure. By spoiling her ballot, she signalled to party members and the electorate that the issue could translate into concrete electoral actions. The episode also illustrates how internal party disputes can spill over into personal protest, potentially influencing voter perceptions and party cohesion.

The Independent

• December 12, 2019 – Hodge spoils her ballot in the general election, writing “antisemite” on the paper (as recounted in *Battleaxe*).

The Independent