- Barclays sponsorship of all Live Nation music festivals in 2024 is suspended
- Bands Boycott Barclays claims 700 artists and industry pros are behind it
Barlcays will not sponsor Latitude, Download and Isle of Wight festivals after multiple acts dropped out in protest to the bank’s links to defence companies supplying Israel.
The announcement yesterday suspended Barclays sponsorship of all Live Nation music festivals in 2024 amid a growing boycott of the banks.
‘The protestors’ agenda is to have Barclays debank defence companies which is a sector we remain committed to as an essential part of keeping this country and our allies safe,’ said the bank’s spokesperson.
Bands Boycott Barclays (BBB), the group behind the protest, has claimed it has 700 artists and industry professionals behind it, including country singer CMAT, metal band Ithaca and comedian Joanne McNally.
Yasmeen, 30, a member of BBB and a musician told The Times that their movement has ‘sparked a runaway train’.
She said: ‘Over a third of the line-up withdrew their labour from the Great Escape. A lot of musicians felt disgusted that a company that’s bankrolling genocide is then getting this reputational acclaim by being part of what is effectively a gem of the music industry.
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‘It seems to have kicked off a bit of a runaway train actually, of artists not wanting to perform at festivals partnered with Barclays.’
As another pressure group, PSC also accused Barclays of ‘bankrolling Israel’s genocidal assault on Palestinians’.
And last month, Barclay’s annual shareholders’ meeting was disrupted by activists protesting against its alleged indirect links to violence in Gaza.
The bank had said the week before that it did not invest its own money in companies that supply weapons used by Israel in Gaza.
And earlier this month pro-Palestine protesters targeted Barclays banks across the country, smashing windows and hurling red paint.
Up to 20 branches were hit in an organised attack by Palestine Action and Shut The System – an underground climate movement.
A branch in Bristol was left with all its windows shattered and red paint splashed over the Barclays sign.
Rocks inscribed with the names of Palestinians killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas were thrown at windows in Edinburgh.
Posting online, Palestine Action claimed to have ‘shut 20 Barclays branches’ across England and Scotland.
They said they took the direct action to ‘demand the bank divests from Israel’s weapons trade and fossil fuels’. A spokesman added: ‘Barclays is funding the crises of climate collapse and genocide in Palestine.
‘Decades of polite campaigning, petitions, letter writing and lobbying MPs have failed.
‘We will continue to escalate until Barclays pulls its finger out and stops funding genocide and climate destruction.’
City of London Police said three men aged between 34 and 45 were yesterday arrested in connection with criminal damage at Barclays in Moorgate.
A force spokesman said: ‘They were seen on CCTV by our control and officers were sent to the scene. Following a short foot chase, three men were brought into custody.’
Red paint ran across the pavement outside the St John’s Wood Barclays – just one of the London branches to be hit. Westminster, Richmond and Croydon were among the others.
The protest groups left branches in Stockport and Bury in Greater Manchester in a similar state of ruin. Other locations targeted included Glasgow, Exeter, and Solihull.
A spokesman for Barclays said: ‘We provide vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defence products to Nato and its allies.
‘Barclays does not directly invest in these companies.
‘The defence sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK Government has been clear that supporting defence companies is compatible with ESG (environmental social and governance) considerations.
‘Decisions on the implementation of arms embargoes to other nations are the job of elected governments.
‘While we support the right to protest, we ask that campaigners do so in a way which respects our customers, colleagues and property,’ the spokesman added.
n The BBC is facing fresh calls to take action over Gary Lineker’s social media activity after he re-shared a post saying humans would be a ‘f***** up species’ to not agree Israel’s conduct was ‘abhorrent’. Ex-BBC director of TV Danny Cohen said Lineker had ‘clearly’ broken BBC guidelines.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
