Stephen Pollard

{{Short description|British author, journalist, editor and right-wing commentator}}

{{For|the English cricketer (born 1971)|Stephen Pollard (cricketer)}}

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| birth_place = London, England

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| education =John Lyon School
Mansfield College, Oxford.

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Stephen Pollard (born 18 December 1964) is a British author and journalist. From 2008 until December 2021, he was the editor of The Jewish Chronicle and remains a senior advisor and writer on the paper.

Early life

Pollard had what he calls a "normal, nominally orthodox north-west London Jewish upbringing". His childhood dream was to become a barrister.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/fantastic-timing-a-baptism-of-fire-at-the-jewish-chronicle-1299058.html|title='Fantastic timing': a baptism of fire at the Jewish Chronicle|last=Bell|first=Matthew|date=11 January 2009|accessdate=26 September 2019|work=The Independent}} He attended Mansfield College, Oxford at the same time as Michael Gove attended Lady Margaret Hall.{{Cite book|last=Bennett|first=Owen|date=2019|title=Michael Gove: A Man in a Hurry|location=London|publisher=Biteback Publishing|isbn=9781785904400}}

Career

In the early part of his career, Pollard was associated with the British left as a researcher for Labour MP Peter Shore and working for the Fabian Society in 1993.{{cite web|url=https://digital.library.lse.ac.uk/Documents/Detail/more-southern-discomfort-a-year-on-taxing-and-spending-1993/119526|title=More southern discomfort|last=Pollard|first=Stephen|date=1993|accessdate=20 March 2025|work=More southern discomfort}}

=Think tanks=

In 1996, Pollard joined the Social Market Foundation.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/diary-5619617.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/diary-5619617.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Diary|last=Eye|first=Eagle|date=18 April 1996|accessdate=21 September 2019|work=The Independent}}

In 2005, Pollard was a Senior Fellow at Civitas.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/thinktanks/page/0,,750289,00.html|title= Civitas: the Institute for the Study of Civil Society|accessdate=21 September 2019|work=The Guardian}} In 2007, he was president for the Centre for the New Europe.{{cite news|url=https://www.pressreader.com/|title=Pollard to head new European think-tank|last=Rocker|first=Simon|date=26 January 2007|accessdate=21 September 2007|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}

In 2007, it was announced that he would be the first chair of the European Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism.

=Journalism=

An indescribably dangerous man who took a moderate title like the jewish Chronical and turned it into a more rabidly islamophobic version of the daily wail and was subsequently fired for the number of times the jewish Chronicle was sued due his fabricated stories.

Stephen Pollard started at the Evening Standard. He then worked at the Daily Express, leaving in 2001. In his final article for the paper, he used the first letter of every paragraph to spell out the phrase "Fuck you Desmond".{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/jan/08/pressandpublishing.thetimes|title=Stephen Pollard loses job at Times|first=Jessica|last=Hodgson|date=8 January 2001|via=www.theguardian.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/mediamonkeyblog/2009/sep/21/richard-desmond-stephen-pollard|title=Stephen Pollard returns to Richard Desmond's fold | Media Monkey|date=21 September 2009|via=www.theguardian.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/fantastic-timing-a-baptism-of-fire-at-the-jewish-chronicle-1299058.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/fantastic-timing-a-baptism-of-fire-at-the-jewish-chronicle-1299058.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title='Fantastic timing': a baptism of fire at the Jewish Chronicle|date=11 January 2009|website=The Independent}}

He has been a political columnist with The Times and the Daily Mail as well as writing for The Independent and Sunday Telegraph.

In November 2008, he became editor of The Jewish Chronicle.Matthew Bell, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/fantastic-timing-a-baptism-of-fire-at-the-jewish-chronicle-1299058.html "'Fantastic timing': a baptism of fire at the Jewish Chronicle"], Independent on Sunday, 11 January 2009 As editor, he referred to the paper as "Israel's candid friend."{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=Matthew |date=2009-01-11 |title='Fantastic timing': a baptism of fire at the Jewish Chronicle |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/fantastic-timing-a-baptism-of-fire-at-the-jewish-chronicle-1299058.html |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Independent |language=en}}

In September 2010, Stephen Pollard and The Spectator apologised and paid damages and costs to the organisers of the Islam Expo conference, in a defamation case involving a blog post written by Pollard and published in July 2008. The apology regretted the suggestion that "Islam Expo Limited is a fascist party dedicated to genocide which organised a conference with a racist and genocidal programme" and accepted that "Islam Expo's purpose is to provide a neutral and broad-based platform for debate on issues relating to Muslims and Islam."{{cite news|url=https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/spectator-settles-in-hyperlink-defamation-case/s2/a540371/|title=Spectator settles in hyperlink defamation case|last=Oliver|first=Laura|date=2 September 2010|accessdate=2 September 2019|work=Journalism.co.uk}}

During his editorship, as of October 2020, the Press Complaints Commission and its successor IPSO made fourteen rulings against the paper.{{cite web |title=Press Complaints Commission |url=http://www.pcc.org.uk/advanced_search.html?keywords=jewish+chronicle&page=1&num=10&publication=x&decision=x&image.x=0&image.y=0 |website=www.pcc.org.uk |accessdate=23 October 2020}}{{cite web |title=IPSO Rulings - Jewish Chronicle |url=https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings-and-resolution-statements/?expression=jewish+chronicle&publications=&clauses=&outcomes=&startDate=2014%2F10%2F01&endDate=2020%2F10%2F31 |website=www.ipso.co.uk/ |publisher=Independent Press Standards Organisation |accessdate=23 October 2020}} The publication was also forced to pay damages for libel on several occasions throughout his tenure.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/apr/03/jewish-chronicle-libel-damages-peace-activist-raphael-cohen |title=Jewish Chronicle pays £30,000 libel damages to peace activist |last=Luft |first=Oliver |date=3 April 2009 |work=The Guardian |accessdate=23 September 2019}}{{cite news |url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/108080/human-appeal-international-apology |title=Human Appeal International: an apology |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle |date=30 May 2013}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/the-trustees-of-interpal-apology-1.487792 |title=The Trustees of Interpal — Apology |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle |date=23 August 2019 |access-date=11 October 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/audrey-white-an-apology-1.497010|title=Audrey White: An apology|date=20 February 2020|accessdate=22 February 2020|work=The Jewish Chronicle}}{{cite web |title=Jewish Chronicle, Stephen Pollard and Lee Harpin apologise and pay substantial libel damages to Nada alSanjari |url=https://www.carter-ruck.com/images/uploads/documents/Al-Sanjari_Press_Release.pdf |website=www.carter-ruck.com/ |publisher=Carter Ruck |date=6 October 2020}}

It was announced in April 2020 that the paper was going into voluntary liquidation, despite a planned merger with Jewish News, announced in February 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-08|title=Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News to close and staff laid off|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/apr/08/jewish-chronicle-and-jewish-news-to-be-liquidated-and-staff-laid-off|access-date=2020-11-22|website=the Guardian|language=en}} Pollard resigned to join a consortium bidding for the publication's assets.{{cite news|url=https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/jewish-news-back-to-business-as-usual-as-chronicle-merger-plan-thwarted-by-surprise-bid/|title=Jewish News back to 'business as usual' as Chronicle merger plan thwarted by surprise bid|last=Tobitt|first=Charlotte|date=21 April 2020|accessdate=21 April 2020|work=Press Gazette}} The bid was successful and retained Pollard as editor.

As of 2023, he writes frequently for the Daily Express, and also writes for the Daily Mail, The Sun and The Daily Telegraph.{{cite news|url=https://muckrack.com/stephen-pollard/articles|title=Articles|accessdate=21 September 2019|work=Muck Rack}} In January 2024, he stepped down from his position at the Jewish Chronicle to concentrate on writing a history of Jewish migration and pursue other projects. He will continue to write a regular column for the paper.{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/stephenpollard/status/1884322990525145231 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250129142243/https://x.com/stephenpollard/status/1884322990525145231 |archive-date=2025-01-29 |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}

Views

Pollard is an advocate of market-based public service reforms.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/aug/24/conservatives.uk2|title=Tories need a Clause 4|last=Pollard|first=Stephen|date=24 August 2005|accessdate=26 September 2019|work=The Guardian}} He believes that "the state has no business running schools or hospitals"{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/may/13/labour.uk1|title=The death of the project|last=Pollard|first=Stephen|date=13 May 2005|accessdate=26 September 2019|work=The Guardian}} and "I object to the fact I have to pay for (the BBC)". He has advocated the introduction of medical co-payments for the National Health Service and the introduction of a flat tax.{{Cite news |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2008-07-02 |title=Beyond the matron state |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/jul/03/nhs.health |access-date=2023-09-13 |issn=0261-3077}} He expressed support for Chancellor George Osborne's decision to limit child benefits, writing that "welfare is thought of as an entitlement, so that those who choose not to work to support themselves can rely on the rest of us to pay their way."{{Cite web |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2015-03-27 |title=We must now put a cap on the huge child benefits bill, argues STEPHEN |url=https://www.express.co.uk/comment/expresscomment/566547/Stephen-Pollard-on-reducing-spending-child-welfare |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}} He has praised Rupert Murdoch as "a man who has done more to democratise news, sport and leisure than any of his opponents."{{Cite web |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2018-07-09 |title=Rupert Murdoch biography review |url=https://www.thejc.com/culture/books/not-a-villain-a-press-hero-murdoch-biography-irwin-stelzer-1.466791 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Jewish Chronicle}}

Pollard supported Brexit and praised the Conservative Party's 2019 manifesto.{{Cite web |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2016-06-24 |title=Brexit: It's a wonderful day for Britain - and its Jews |url=https://www.thejc.com/comment/comment/brexit-it-s-a-wonderful-day-for-britain-and-its-jews-1.59563 |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Jewish Chronicle}}{{Cite news |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2019-11-25 |title=Only three words in the Tory manifesto matter: Get Brexit done |language=en-GB |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/11/25/three-words-tory-manifesto-matter-get-brexit-done/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |issn=0307-1235}}

Pollard was a signatory founder of the Henry Jackson Society, a neoconservative British foreign policy think tank.[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/thinktanks/page/0,10538,1684775,00.html The Henry Jackson Society] The Guardian,"...[The West's] failures in the former Yugoslavia (especially Bosnia) were more than just moral. Through their impact on the credibility of our international institutions, such as NATO and the EU, they had a profound effect on the national interests of western powers. These fiascos showed that we had to engage, robustly and sometimes preventatively. The early interventions in Kosovo and Sierra Leone, although imperfect, provide an appropriate model for future action." [http://www.henryjacksonsociety.org/content.asp?pageid=35 The Henry Jackson Society's Statement of Principles] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808044933/http://www.henryjacksonsociety.org/content.asp?pageid=35 |date=8 August 2010 }}

Pollard says that he began to think about Judaism seriously and to feel loyalty to Israel in his mid-thirties. Pollard has called Amnesty International a "woke joke" and accused them of allying with "groups that lionise Islamist terrorists."{{Cite news |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2022-10-30 |title=Amnesty International has become a woke joke |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/30/amnesty-international-has-become-woke-joke/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |issn=0307-1235}} He has also written that "Amnesty is a worthless, morally bankrupt sham that gives succour to terrorist states."{{Cite news |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2022-08-06 |title=Amnesty is now utterly morally bankrupt |language=en-GB |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/08/06/amnesty-now-utterly-morally-bankrupt/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |issn=0307-1235}}

Pollard supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, while acknowledging failures in reconstruction,{{Cite web |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2003-04-20 |title=Stephen Pollard: War lessons that Mr Blair should apply at home |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/stephen-pollard-war-lessons-that-mr-blair-should-apply-at-home-115949.html |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2003-08-24 |title=Stephen Pollard: We can still succeed in reconstructing Iraq |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/stephen-pollard-we-can-still-succeed-in-reconstructing-iraq-101684.html |access-date=2023-09-13 |website=The Independent |language=en}} and called the Stop the War Coalition "traitors", saying that their opposition to the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan equated to supporting dictators.{{Cite news |last=Pollard |first=Stephen |date=2016-10-12 |title=Stop the War 'oppose the West' and support dictators. They are traitors |language=en-GB |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/12/stop-the-war-oppose-the-west-and-support-dictators-they-are-trai/ |access-date=2023-09-13 |issn=0307-1235}}

Publications

David Blunkett, Hodder & Stoughton, 2004
Ten Days That Changed The Nation: The Making Of Modern Britain, Simon & Schuster, 2009
Falling Off A Clef: The Lives and Bizarre Deaths of Great Composers, The Robson Press, 2014