Latitude Festival has dropped its sponsor, Barclays, after several musicians and comedians pulled out in protest over the bank’s ties to the Israel-Hamas war.
Latitude Festival told Sky News: “Following discussion with the artists, we have agreed with Barclays that they will no longer sponsor Latitude Festival.”
Comedians Joanne McNally, Sophie Duker, Grace Campbell and Alexandra Haddow announced they would be boycotting the event last week.
Musicians such as CMAT, Pillow Queens, Mui Zyu and Georgia Ruth also withdrew from the event.
Palestine Action, a group whose members attacked 20 of the bank branches across England and Scotland last week accused Barclays of having financial interests in both Israel’s arms trade and fossil fuels.
Barclays says that although it provides financial services to “public companies that supply defense products to NATO and its allies”, it does not invest directly in the companies.
Taskmaster star McNally, who was due to close the festival, wrote in an Instagram story last week: “Today I’m getting messages about my performance at Latitude when it’s being sponsored by Barclays.
“I’m not doing Latitude anymore. I was supposed to close the comedy tent on Sunday night, but I backed out last week.
“I’m into ancient art, but I haven’t been listed on the site since I left a week ago.”
Duker shared a photo of herself at a previous Latitude Festival and confirmed she would boycott the event.
She wrote: “I am committed to minimizing my complicity in what I consider to be an abhorrent and unlawful pattern of violence.”
The 34-year-old comedian also said that her pro-Palestinian stance “has earned me violent abuse, targeted attacks and death threats.”
Fellow comedian Grace Campbell, who is the daughter of Sir Tony Blair’s former spokesperson Alastair Campbell, shared Duker’s post in an Instagram Story, announcing that she was also pulling out of the festival.
Meanwhile, comedian Alexandra Haddow said she would also no longer appear, writing on Instagram: “I cannot in good conscience accept the fee.”
In a post shared on her Instagram account last week, Irish singer-songwriter CMAT said: “I will not allow my precious work, my music, which I love so much, to go to bed with violence.”
Barclays has been approached for comment.
In response to the exodus of acts, Barclays previously defended its position, saying it recognized “the profound human suffering” caused by the Israel-Hamas War.
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“We provide vital financial services to US, UK and European public companies that supply defense products to NATO and its allies,” it said in a statement.
“Barclays does not invest directly in these companies. The defense sector is fundamental to our national security and the UK government has made clear that supporting defense companies is compatible with ESG considerations.
“Decisions regarding the implementation of arms embargoes on other nations are the task of the respective elected governments.”
Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the Latitude Festival at Henham Park in Suffolk, held from 25th to 29th July.
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