Community

Rachel Riley awarded Freedom of the City of London for her fight against antisemitism

Wednesday, 22 October 2025 4:07AM UTC

Rachel Riley, known for her advocacy against antisemitism and for Holocaust education, receives the prestigious Freedom of the City of London, highlighting her ongoing efforts to combat prejudice and misinformation amid current global tensions.

Rachel Riley, the well-known presenter of the television programme "Countdown," has been awarded the prestigious Freedom of the City of London in recognition of her significant contributions to Holocaust education and combating antisemitism. The ceremony, held at the historic Mansion House, celebrated Riley's courageous use of her public platform to challenge prejudice and her efforts to empower young people to speak out against racism. Lord Mayor Alastair King praised her as deserving of the honour, highlighting her sterling work in encouraging awareness and activism against antisemitism. Alderman Tim Levene described Riley as one of the UK's most important voices in the fight against antisemitism, further emphasising the significance of this longstanding civic accolade that honours individuals with outstanding contributions to public life.

Riley herself stated that the honour serves as a vital reminder that the fight against prejudice is valued and necessary, especially as antisemitism continues to be a visible and pressing issue in society. Her commitment to Holocaust education and raising awareness is well-documented, notably in her outspoken criticism of antisemitism within political spheres, including her vocal stance on controversies involving the Labour Party and former leader Jeremy Corbyn. This award complements the MBE Riley received earlier in 2023 for her services to Holocaust education, underscoring her consistent dedication to these causes.

Beyond her educational efforts, Riley has also been actively involved in campaigns against misinformation and antisemitism-related fake news. She supports initiatives such as "Stop Funding Fake News," which targets hyper-partisan websites by urging advertisers to withdraw financial support from platforms accused of spreading disinformation and fostering societal division. This campaign, inspired by similar movements abroad, seeks to tackle the root of harmful narratives by cutting off their economic lifelines.

Despite facing criticism and calls for boycotts on social media due to her outspoken views, Riley has reaffirmed her commitment to combating antisemitism. Speaking after such challenges, she expressed gratitude for the support she has received and declared that she will "carry on regardless," determined to continue her advocacy.

Riley’s efforts remain particularly poignant in light of recent global events, such as the conflict in Gaza, which have heightened the sense of urgency around Holocaust education and the fight against hatred and intolerance. She remarked that such education feels "present and urgent" amidst ongoing tensions, reflecting her belief in the power of awareness to counteract prejudice and violence.

Overall, Rachel Riley's receipt of the Freedom of the City of London not only honours her past and ongoing work but also serves as a public reaffirmation of the importance of education, activism, and courage in confronting antisemitism and racism in today’s world.

📌 Reference Map:

Paragraph 1 – ^[1] (Evening Standard), ^[2] (Evening Standard), ^[3] (Irish News)
Paragraph 2 – ^[2] (Evening Standard), ^[3] (Irish News), ^[4] (European Jewish Congress)
Paragraph 3 – ^[6] (Jewish News)
Paragraph 4 – ^[5] (Jewish News)
Paragraph 5 – ^[7] (Evening Standard)

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/rachel-riley-freedom-city-london-antisemitism-campaigning-b1254135.html - Please view link - unable to able to access data
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/rachel-riley-freedom-city-london-antisemitism-campaigning-b1254135.html - Rachel Riley, the 'Countdown' presenter, has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London for her significant contributions to Holocaust education and combating antisemitism. At a ceremony at Mansion House, she expressed that the honour is a reminder that efforts to challenge prejudice are valued. Lord Mayor Alastair King praised Riley for using her platform to campaign against antisemitism and for her work encouraging young people to speak out against racism. Alderman Tim Levene commended her as one of the UK's most important voices against antisemitism. The Freedom of the City of London is a historic tribute to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to public life. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/rachel-riley-freedom-city-london-antisemitism-campaigning-b1254135.html?utm_source=openai))
https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/rachel-riley-receives-freedom-of-the-city-of-london-for-antisemitism-campaigning-LWJ2HF4TRZLHFNABVTBVJPLDHY/ - Rachel Riley, known for co-hosting 'Countdown', has been granted the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of her efforts in Holocaust education and combating antisemitism. At the Mansion House ceremony, she highlighted the increasing visibility of antisemitism and the importance of valuing work that challenges such prejudice. Lord Mayor Alastair King acknowledged Riley's courage in using her public platform to address antisemitism and her dedication to encouraging young people to confront racism. Alderman Tim Levene praised her as a leading voice against antisemitism in the UK. The Freedom of the City of London is a longstanding tradition honouring individuals with outstanding public service. ([irishnews.com](https://www.irishnews.com/news/uk/rachel-riley-receives-freedom-of-the-city-of-london-for-antisemitism-campaigning-LWJ2HF4TRZLHFNABVTBVJPLDHY/?utm_source=openai))
https://eurojewcong.org/news/communities-news/united-kingdom/rachel-riley-receives-royal-honour-for-holocaust-and-antisemitism-awareness/ - Rachel Riley, the 'Countdown' presenter, has been awarded an MBE for her work in raising awareness of the Holocaust and combating antisemitism. The 37-year-old Oxford graduate, whose mother is Jewish, was honoured for her services to Holocaust education in the 2023 New Year Honours list. Riley has been a vocal critic of the Labour Party's handling of alleged antisemitism and Jeremy Corbyn's conduct as leader. She has also been involved in campaigns against fake news and antisemitism, including the 'Stop Funding Fake News' initiative. ([eurojewcong.org](https://eurojewcong.org/news/communities-news/united-kingdom/rachel-riley-receives-royal-honour-for-holocaust-and-antisemitism-awareness/?utm_source=openai))
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/rachel-riley-to-carry-on-antisemitism-fight-after-users-call-for-her-boycott/ - Rachel Riley, the 'Countdown' presenter, has vowed to continue her fight against antisemitism despite facing calls for a boycott on social media. After comments on antisemitism and fake news, Riley faced criticism, but she expressed gratitude for the support received and reaffirmed her commitment to combating antisemitism. She stated that she would 'carry on regardless' and thanked those who stood up for her. ([jewishnews.co.uk](https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/rachel-riley-to-carry-on-antisemitism-fight-after-users-call-for-her-boycott/?utm_source=openai))
https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/how-a-group-of-friends-are-fighting-fake-news-with-a-hand-from-rachel-riley/ - A group of friends, supported by Rachel Riley, is targeting hyper-partisan websites by addressing their advertising revenue. The 'Stop Funding Fake News' campaign aims to combat websites accused of spreading disinformation and fostering division. Inspired by similar initiatives in the US, the campaign seeks to persuade brands to withdraw advertising from such sites. ([jewishnews.co.uk](https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/how-a-group-of-friends-are-fighting-fake-news-with-a-hand-from-rachel-riley/?utm_source=openai))
https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/rachel-riley-gaza-hamas-riley-mbe-b1129728.html - Rachel Riley has expressed a 'sombre' feeling on New Year's Eve amid the Gaza conflict. The 'Countdown' presenter, who was made an MBE for her work in raising awareness of the Holocaust and combating antisemitism, stated that Holocaust education feels 'present and urgent' since the attack by Hamas on October 7. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/rachel-riley-gaza-hamas-riley-mbe-b1129728.html?utm_source=openai))

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative is fresh, with no evidence of prior publication. The earliest known publication date is October 21, 2025. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No recycled content or republishing across low-quality sites was identified.

Quotes check

Score: 10

Notes: The direct quotes from Rachel Riley and other individuals are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating original content. No variations in quote wording were found.

Source reliability

Score: 10

Notes: The narrative originates from reputable sources, including The Standard, PA Media, and The Irish News. These are established news outlets with a history of reliable reporting. The individuals and organisations mentioned, such as Lord Mayor Alastair King and Alderman Tim Levene, are verifiable and have public profiles.

Plausability check

Score: 10

Notes: The claims made in the narrative are plausible and consistent with known facts. Rachel Riley has been actively involved in combating antisemitism and was awarded an MBE in 2023 for her services to Holocaust education. The Freedom of the City of London is a longstanding civic honour, and its awarding to Riley aligns with her public service. The tone and language used are appropriate for the subject matter and region.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary: The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from reputable outlets. All claims are plausible and supported by verifiable information. No signs of disinformation or recycled content were found.

Rachel Riley
Antisemitism
Holocaust education