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The Green Parties across the UK, the Scottish Greens, the Green Party of Northern Ireland, the Green Party of England and Wales, and the Welsh Green Party have today issued a rare joint call on the BBC to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest coverage if Israel’s state broadcaster is permitted to participate. 

In a letter to BBC Director-General Tim Davie, the four Green Parties warn that Israel’s assault on Gaza since October 2023 has left more than 64,000 Palestinians dead, over 160,000 injured, and entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. UN officials have repeatedly said Israel’s actions bear the hallmarks of genocide. British Green Parties have repeatedly called on the British state to act in line with the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.  

The leaders also highlighted Gaza as the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded, with more reporters killed there in the last two years than worldwide in the three years before combined. 

Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, said:

“Eurovision is supposed to stand for peace, shared humanity and a lot of fun. Those values cannot coexist with complicity in genocide. By standing alongside Israel’s state broadcaster, the BBC would not just be ignoring the mass killing of civilians, it would also be turning its back on journalists being silenced and murdered for telling the truth. That is indefensible.” 

Broadcasters across Europe are already taking action. Ireland’s RTÉ and Slovenia’s RTVSLO have pledged to withdraw if Israel participates, while Spain’s Culture Minister has raised the same, and Iceland is consulting the public. The BBC cannot stay neutral in genocide.” 

Ross Greer, Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens, said:

“We’ve been here before. In the fight against apartheid South Africa, cultural boycotts were vital in telling oppressive regimes they would not be normalised. The same principle applies today. Israel must not be allowed to use Eurovision as a platform to launder its reputation while committing atrocities.” 

Malachai O’Hara, Leader of the Green Party of Northern Ireland, said:

“This is a moment for moral clarity. Either the BBC stands on the side of peace, justice and international law – or it lends legitimacy to a state committing mass human rights abuses. The choice could not be starker.” 

Anthony Slaughter, Leader of the Welsh Green Party added:

“The UK cannot look away while children starve, while families are bombed from their homes, while an entire people are brutalised. The BBC has a responsibility to act, and the time to act is now.” 

The joint letter concludes: 

“The Eurovision Song Contest is supposed to celebrate peace, unity, and shared humanity. Those values cannot coexist whilst arming a genocide. We therefore call on the BBC, in the strongest possible terms, to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel’s state broadcaster is permitted to participate. In the face of genocide, we urge you to act.”

ENDS

FULL TEXT OF LETTER

Dear Mr Davie, 

As leaders of the Green Party of England and Wales, Scottish Greens, and the Green Party of Northern Ireland, we are writing to urge the BBC to take a principled and urgent stand regarding the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest. 

Since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 64,656 and wounded 163,503 Palestinians in Gaza. Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to rubble. Families have been, and are being starved, displaced, and traumatised on an unimaginable scale. International experts, including UN officials, have warned repeatedly that Israel’s actions bear the hallmarks of genocide. 

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Israel’s War in Gaza is the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded. More press members have been killed there in the past two years than were killed worldwide in the prior three years combined. This matters particularly for the BBC: to stand alongside Israel’s state broadcaster at Eurovision would be to ignore an unprecedented assault on journalism itself, an assault that has sought to silence those documenting the suffering. 

Other broadcasters are already showing leadership. Ireland’s RTÉ and Slovenia’s RTVSLO have announced they will not take part in Eurovision if Israel participates. Spain’s Culture Minister has also raised this as a possibility, and Iceland is consulting on withdrawal. The BBC now faces a choice: will you make a bold and principled stance for peace, justice, and the defence of international law, or will you help legitimise a state that is committing atrocities against a trapped civilian population? 

We have been here before. In the global struggle against apartheid South Africa, cultural and sporting boycotts were vital in sending a clear message: states that systemically oppress, kill, and dispossess cannot be normalised as members of the international community. The same principle must apply today. 

The Eurovision Song Contest is supposed to celebrate peace, unity, and shared humanity. Those values cannot coexist whilst arming a genocide. 

We therefore call on the BBC, in the strongest possible terms, to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel’s state broadcaster is permitted to participate. 

In the face of genocide, we urge you to act. 

Yours sincerely, 

Ross Greer, Co-Leader, Scottish Greens

Malachai O’Hara, Leader, Green Party Northern Ireland

Zack Polanski, Leader, Green Party of England and Wales 

Anthony Slaughter, Wales Green Party 

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Green Party Deputy Leader and Leeds City Councillor, Mothin Ali, has submitted a police complaint and a formal code of conduct complaint to the Council’s Monitoring Officer after being racially harassed by Reform UK councillor Ryan Taylor during a Leeds City Council meeting last night (05:43:00 in).

In his maiden speech, Cllr Taylor gestured toward Cllr Ali while discussing grooming gangs, saying: “some [elected representatives] of a certain colour, who would go as far as state the victims of abuse as a lifestyle choice.” Cllr Ali has described the comments as “racist dog whistles” designed to divide communities rather than address the real struggles facing families in Leeds.

Posting on X after the incident, Cllr Ali wrote:

“Last week, I met a woman at my advice surgery who was sanctioned for simply missing online journal entries. She had to turn to loan sharks just to pay her rent and feed the children she cares for. This is the reality for so many in our communities. It’s why I fight every day for a fairer, more compassionate system.

Meanwhile, Reform are busy selling snake oil. This councillor, instead of offering real solutions, used his maiden speech to push racist dog whistles. While they divide, we’re focused on helping the most disadvantaged in our society and building a future based on justice and care.”

Cllr Ali responded to the incident today, saying:

“These comments were not just offensive to me personally, they were an attempt to stigmatise whole communities. Racism has no place in politics or in Leeds. These comments were designed to silence me, but I will not be silenced. I will not stand by while Reform try to divide and stigmatise my community. My job, as a Councillor and Deputy Leader of The Green Party, is to fight for fairness, justice, and compassion. And that’s exactly what I will continue to do.”

Green Party Leader Zack Polanski said:

“Reform are peddling hate and distraction, while people across Leeds and the country struggle with the cost of living, insecure housing and a crumbling NHS. Mothin Ali has shown enormous courage in calling this out. The Green Party stands fully behind him. Because politics should be about building hope, not spreading hate.”

The Green Party is calling on Leeds City Council and Reform UK to take immediate action to address this incident, and for all political parties to commit to higher standards of conduct in public life.

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Green Party Deputy Leader and Leeds City Councillor, Mothin Ali, has submitted a police complaint and a formal code of conduct complaint to the Council’s Monitoring Officer after being racially harassed by Reform UK councillor Ryan Taylor during a Leeds City Council meeting last night (05:43:00 in).

In his maiden speech, Cllr Taylor gestured toward Cllr Ali while discussing grooming gangs, saying: “some [elected representatives] of a certain colour, who would go as far as state the victims of abuse as a lifestyle choice.” Cllr Ali has described the comments as “racist dog whistles” designed to divide communities rather than address the real struggles facing families in Leeds.

Posting on X after the incident, Cllr Ali wrote:

“Last week, I met a woman at my advice surgery who was sanctioned for simply missing online journal entries. She had to turn to loan sharks just to pay her rent and feed the children she cares for. This is the reality for so many in our communities. It’s why I fight every day for a fairer, more compassionate system.

Meanwhile, Reform are busy selling snake oil. This councillor, instead of offering real solutions, used his maiden speech to push racist dog whistles. While they divide, we’re focused on helping the most disadvantaged in our society and building a future based on justice and care.”

Cllr Ali responded to the incident today, saying:

“These comments were not just offensive to me personally, they were an attempt to stigmatise whole communities. Racism has no place in politics or in Leeds. These comments were designed to silence me, but I will not be silenced. I will not stand by while Reform try to divide and stigmatise my community. My job, as a Councillor and Deputy Leader of The Green Party, is to fight for fairness, justice, and compassion. And that’s exactly what I will continue to do.”

Green Party Leader Zack Polanski said:

“Reform are peddling hate and distraction, while people across Leeds and the country struggle with the cost of living, insecure housing and a crumbling NHS. Mothin Ali has shown enormous courage in calling this out. The Green Party stands fully behind him. Because politics should be about building hope, not spreading hate.”

The Green Party is calling on Leeds City Council and Reform UK to take immediate action to address this incident, and for all political parties to commit to higher standards of conduct in public life.

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11 September 2025 by Green Party

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11 September 2025 by Green Party

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