“Palestinian lives have been treated as bargaining chips” say Greens as recognition of a Palestinian state nears


/ by Steve Hynd

Responding to reports that Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce the UK’s recognition of a Palestinian state in a statement on Sunday afternoon, Green Party MP, Ellie Chowns, said: 

“I welcome the UK’s long-overdue recognition of the state of Palestine – a vital affirmation of Palestinian dignity and rights after decades of dispossession and suffering. For too long, Palestinian lives have been treated as bargaining chips; I condemn the government’s delay in recognising Palestine, and I am appalled at the way Palestinian statehood has been held up behind conditions for the Israeli government to meet, rather than advanced as a matter of principle.

“While recognition is important, there is much, much more that the UK can and must do to take real, concrete action to end the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza. We must deploy every diplomatic, legal, and economic lever to secure an immediate and lasting ceasefire; guarantee unfettered and sustained humanitarian access to Gaza’s starving people; ensure the release of every remaining hostage; and insist on clear, time-bound deadlines for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. The UK should immediately stop all arms sales and military cooperation, impose tough sanctions on all those responsible for war crimes, and ban imports from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

“And with the UN commission concluding just last week that Israeli forces are committing genocide in Gaza, the UK must drive impartial investigations into war crimes and support justice mechanisms for victims.  Recognition is vital – but must be accompanied by meaningful UK action to exert pressure to end the genocide, build peace, rebuild lives, and tackle the root injustices that have fuelled this conflict.”

END 

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State visits are honours – Trump doesn’t deserve one, say Green MPs


/ by Green Party

In response to Donald Trump’s upcoming second state visit to the UK, Dr. Ellie Chowns MP has filed an Early Day Motion (EDM):  

“That this House believes that US President Donald Trump does not deserve the honour of a second UK state visit; notes the shadow of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein hangs over the visit; condemns plans for US F-35 military jets to to be part of a flypast with the Red Arrows during the visit, because F-35s are used by the extreme-right Israeli Government to commit genocide against civilians in Gaza; applauds those taking part in peaceful protests against this visit and the US President’s authoritarian playbook, that includes using the office of President to enrich himself and his family, racism, dehumanising and using cruel and unlawful enforcement tactics against immigrant communities, misogyny, eroding the reproductive health rights of women and girls, banning books, deploying wartime and emergency powers during peacetime, and attacking the US civil service, the judiciary and universities; and calls on the UK Government to show courage and to defend the democratic values and norms under grave attack from the 47th President of the United States.”

The EDM is supported by Carla Denyer MP, Sian Berry MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, John McDonnell MP, Shockat Adam MP, Brian Leishman MP, and Iqbal Mohammed MP.

Ellie Chowns said: “Donald Trump has used his office to enrich his family, fan the flames of racism and xenophobia, erode reproductive rights, deploy wartime and emergency powers during peacetime, and attack democratic institutions. State visits are honours; Trump doesn’t deserve one.”

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New poll suggests Greens could hold balance of power in Senedd


/ by Green Party

The latest Barn Cymru poll suggests the leader of Wales Green Party, Anthony Slaughter, could end up with the casting vote after next May’s elections to the Senedd. The poll also suggests a further collapse in Labour’s support, registering just 14%, and 11 out of 96 seats, with Plaid Cymru on 38 seats. 

Anthony Slaughter, who is predicted to win the new Caerdydd Penarth seat, said:

“This poll shows what we’re hearing on the ground, that Labour are in a total collapse and voters are looking for real change, after the lies Keir Starmer told them last year.

“Last month, we saw a taste of this where Greens won a council by-election in Labour’s former heartland of Grangetown.”

According to a calculator built by academic experts, a 2% swing to the Greens could see the party win 3 seats, and hold the balance of power.

Slaughter continued: “A clear majority of Welsh voters don’t want Reform running Wales. The new proportional voting system means people can vote for what they believe in, not for the least worst option.

“By giving Greens the casting vote in the Senedd, voters can rely on us to make fixing the cost of living our number one priority.”

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UK Green Parties demand BBC withdraw from Eurovision coverage if Israeli state broadcaster participates

For immediate release

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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UK Green Parties demand BBC withdraw from Eurovision coverage if Israeli state broadcaster participates

For immediate release

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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