Minister calls for Labour to review Vince donations over controversial Israel comments
Ecotricity founder admits 'cock-up' over seperate 'Turkey Holocaust' post
A government minister has called for Labour to review its position on taking future donations from Dale Vince after the green industrialist appeared to link the Sydney terror attack to “Israel committing Genocide in Palestine” in a social media post.
Health and Care Minister Stephen Kinnock called for Vince to apologise for Sunday’s post and suggested the Labour Party could review whether it would accept any future donations from him.
He told LBC: “Well, it is wrong, of course, to blame the Jewish people collectively for the actions of the Israeli government.
“Many people feel that the action the Israeli government has taken in relation to Gaza has been completely unacceptable and disproportionate, but it’s completely wrong to in any way imply that the Jewish people collectively should be blamed for that.
“And I think that first tweet that Mr Vince did could have given that impression.
“I think he then put out a second tweet clarifying.
“I think he should apologise for that tweet, and then you know, in terms of his support for the Labour Party, let’s see.
“Let’s ensure that he apologises, and I think we can review the position and take a decision on that basis.”
Vince, who has donated to Labour in the past but who is not a member of the party, had faced criticism for writing that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “wants antisemitism to be a thing” after gunmen on Sunday targeted a celebration of the first day of Hanukkah, killing 15 people.
In his original post on Sunday, Vince said: “Commenting on the shootings in Australia today, Netanyahu said, ‘ Antisemitism spreads when leaders stay silent.
“Nothing to do with Israel committing Genocide in Palestine, then. Netanyahu wants antisemitism to be a thing; it validates him – he acts to make it so.”
He then told Jewish News in a statement: “My words on this subject were not intended to excuse or legitimise terrorism, or any form of racism – what happened at Bondi Beach is an atrocity.
“My words are aimed at the intervention of Netanyahu, who, in my opinion, overlooks the impacts of his own terrorism.”Dale Vince says Bondi Beach social media comment ‘not intended to excuse terrorism’
Aberafan Maesteg MP Kinnock said it should be possible for people to express their views on Gaza as well as solidarity with Jewish communities.
“We’ve got to get away from this polarisation, this binary position all the time,” he said.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has also called Vince’s statement “morally repugnant” and urged Keir Starmer to condemn him.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “We are absolutely clear that the antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families at a Chanukah event at Bondi Beach is sickening.
“There can never and should never be any excuses made for barbaric acts of terrorism.
“The Labour Government and the whole Labour movement stand with the Jewish community in Australia, in the UK, and around the world at this awful time.
“Both before and since we entered government, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has made tackling antisemitism a key priority, and this crucial work will continue so that Jews living at home and abroad can live safely, without fear of violence or prejudice.”
Vince also clarified an earlier post written prior to Sunday’s Sydney terror attack in which he said: “Ten Million Turkeys are killed every year – to celebrate Christmas. It’s a Turkey Holocaust.”
Vince later said: “My post about 10 million Turkeys slaughtered for xmas was pre-written and scheduled to go out at tea time Sunday – the Bondi Beach terror post was an immediate reaction to what Netanyahu said – that got posted straight away and ahead of it.
“I can see how the Turkey post looked unfortunate or insensitive coming hard on the heels of my Netanyahu Bondi Beach post – I also feel it was.
“Despite what the Spectator might speculate, or like to believe – it was cock, not conspiracy.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
