Hay Festival row as Labour MP pulls out over sponsor’s links to Israel
Hay Festival has become embroiled in a row as a Labour MP pulled out of the literary event over accusations its sponsor firm “profits from Israeli apartheid”.
Dawn Butler, the MP for Brent Central, was due to speak at Hay-on-Wye later this month, but has decided to boycott the festival over its sponsorship links with investment management firm Baillie Gifford.
Hay Festival confirmed to The Telegraph that Ms Butler and four other guests - author and poet AK Blakemore, Bristol University lecturer Noreen Masud, Hong Kong climate justice activist Tori Tsui and stand-up comedian Ania Magliano - have decided to pull out of the festival this year.
The Labour MP wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday: “Today I am making the decision to withdraw from the Hay-on-Wye literary festival.
“I was due to speak at the festival later this month to promote my life affirming book ‘A Purposeful Life’.
“It has since come to my attention that Hay-on-Wye festival is sponsored by investment company Baillie Gifford who, according to Fossil Free Books, ‘profit from Israeli apartheid, occupation and genocide with up to £10 billion invested in companies with direct or indirect links to Israel’s defence, tech and cybersecurity industries’, and are also exposed in investments in illegal Israeli settlements.”
It comes after hundreds of writers threatened to boycott literary festivals across the UK this year unless Baillie Gifford, which sponsors them, divests from Israel and fossil fuels.
Authors including Sally Rooney - who turned down an Israeli translation of her novel in 2021 - social campaigner Naomi Klein, journalist George Monbiot and writer Robert Macfarlane, have signed a statement by Fossil Free Books (FFB) that demands Baillie Gifford withdraws all investment from Israel.
“Literary organisations can expect escalation, including the expansion of boycotts, increased author withdrawal of labour, and increased disruption until Baillie Gifford divests,” an open letter signed by more than 200 writers last week said.
The investment company came under fire last year at the Edinburgh International Book Festival by writers including Zadie Smith, Ali Smith and Katherine Rundell, while Greta Thunberg withdrew from her appearance at the festival.
Ms Butler added: “Of course Israel has the right to defend herself, it must however be within international law.
“I have been shocked and disgusted by the events in Gaza. With over 35,000 Palestinians now killed by the IDF - a majority of them women and children - and with Gaza on the brink of man-made famine, I cannot in good conscience participate in this festival.
“I repeat my call for an immediate ceasefire on both sides.”
Julie Finch, the chief executive of Hay Festival Global said: “This week, Fossil Free Books has issued a statement asking authors to boycott our next edition in protest over one of our sponsors, Baillie Gifford, and their investment portfolio.
“Their statement has been challenged by Baillie Gifford.
“We have requested additional information from Baillie Gifford and continue to work to safeguard our events as free and respectful platforms for exchanging ideas.
“We remain committed to reaching the widest possible audiences through our work and presenting one of a kind events in the heart of the Welsh countryside next week.”
Baillie Gifford told the Guardian in a statement last week that FFB’s assertion that the company has “nearly £10 billion invested in companies with direct or indirect links to Israel’s defence, tech and cybersecurity industries” is “seriously misleading”, adding that the figure was “based on conflating two different types of exposure”.