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Middle East Eye
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Middle East Eye
Hundreds of cultural figures urge UK not to ban Palestine Action
A group of over 400 cultural figures from across the political spectrum has called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to halt the proscription of Palestine Action on free speech grounds. The novelist Alan Hollinghurst, writer Reni Eddo-Lodge and musician Brian Eno are among those who have signed a joint statement organised by Fossil Free Books. 'Whether we as individuals support Palestine Action is irrelevant: what is at stake here is the very principle of freedom of expression,' the statement reads. Pankaj Mishra, whose recent book The World After Gaza responds to the impact of Israel's war on Gaza, has signed the statement, as have the journalist George Monbiot, economist Yanis Varoufakis, academic Kojo Karam, comedian Frankie Boyle and the writers Aja Barber, Max Porter and Afua Hirsch. In a separate letter organised by Artists for Palestine UK, another group of high profile British cultural figures, including the actor Tilda Swinton and the musician Paul Weller, said: "The real threat to the life of the nation comes not from Palestine Action but from Home Secretary Yvonne Cooper's efforts to ban it." Read more: Starmer and Cooper urged by over 400 cultural figures not to ban Palestine Action
Middle East Eye
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
UK: Starmer and Cooper urged by over 400 cultural figures not to ban Palestine Action
A group of over 400 cultural figures from across the political spectrum has called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to halt the proscription of Palestine Action on free speech grounds. The novelist Alan Hollinghurst, writer Reni Eddo-Lodge and musician Brian Eno are among those who have signed a joint statement organised by Fossil Free Books. 'Whether we as individuals support Palestine Action is irrelevant: what is at stake here is the very principle of freedom of expression,' the statement reads. Pankaj Mishra, whose recent book The World After Gaza responds to the impact of Israel's war on Gaza, has signed the statement, as have the journalist George Monbiot, economist Yanis Varoufakis, academic Kojo Karam, comedian Frankie Boyle and the writers Aja Barber, Max Porter and Afua Hirsch. In a separate letter organised by Artists for Palestine UK, another group of high profile British cultural figures, including the actor Tilda Swinton and the musician Paul Weller, said: "The real threat to the life of the nation comes not from Palestine Action but from Home Secretary Yvonne Cooper's efforts to ban it." 'Civil disobedience is not 'terrorism', as history shows us, from the suffragettes to Martin Luther King Jr. It is the right of all citizens in a democracy," the Fossil Free Books statement says. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters "In 2004, Keir Starmer made this very argument when he represented an activist who sabotaged a military aircraft, making the case that his actions were lawful because they aimed to prevent an 'illegal war'. 'Legal and human rights groups, such as Amnesty, Greenpeace and Liberty, have been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action threatens the right to protest in the UK.' As a lawyer, Starmer represented Josh Richards, one of five British peace activists who in 2003 sought to sabotage operations at RAF Fairford, a military air base that was housing B-52 bombers due to fly to Iraq. Banning Palestine Action Founded in 2020, Palestine Action is a direct action group the UK government is set to ban after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton, the largest airbase in Britain, on 20 June and spray-painted two planes while on electric scooters. The activists then evaded security and escaped the base, which they said they targeted because flights leave from there for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, 'a base used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East'. 'As a precedent for what constitutes free speech and appropriate civil disobedience, this is appalling' - Nikesh Shukla, British screenwriter On Friday police announced they had arrested two people connected to the incident, and have since made four more arrests related to the RAF base break-in. Speaking in parliament on 23 June, Yvette Cooper said: 'I have decided to proscribe Palestine Action under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000. She said a draft proscription order will be presented in Parliament on 30 June. "If passed, it will make it illegal to be a member of, or to invite support for, Palestine Action.' After the draft order is presented in parliament on Monday, it will be put to a vote on Wednesday and could come into effect as soon as Friday this week. On Monday, Palestine Action said that Cooper "will ask MPs to decide in one vote to ban Palestine Action and neo-Nazi groups 'Maniac Murder Cult' and 'Russian Imperialist Movement'. "She's done this deliberately to try and ensure the vote is successful." New report lays out full extent of UK-Israel military partnership in Gaza Read More » If Palestine Action is proscribed, it will place it alongside the likes of Islamic State and the neo-Nazi group National Action. It will be the first time a direct action group has been classified in this way. George Monbiot, a Guardian columnist and author, said that the planned proscription of Palestine Action was 'our 'I'm Spartacus' moment.' Scottish comedian Fern Brady said: 'Civil disobedience, protest and the expression of political solidarity is not terrorism. "To say that it is would be an indictment of the UK democracy and every self-respecting comedian should take a stand.' Nikesh Shukla, the British novelist and screenwriter, said: 'As a precedent for what constitutes free speech and appropriate civil disobedience, this is appalling. "We call on all writers, no matter your political views, to join us in defending freedom of speech.'
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Book Festival awarded £300k in taxpayer cash after Nicola Sturgeon ex-aide hired
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The Edinburgh International Book Festival received £300,000 of taxpayer cash weeks after Nicola Sturgeon's ex-chief of staff was appointed as director. The former first minister, who is among the headliners for the event, will be promoting her new memoir - Frankly. Her former top adviser, Liz Lloyd, was hired as director of the festival in May, reports the Daily Record. A 'one-off' lifeline for the festival of £300,000 was announced by the Scottish Government in June. The event lost its chief sponsor Baillie Gifford last year, after campaigning from eco activists over fossil fuel ties. Lothian Tory MSP Sue Webber said: 'Taxpayers will be asking questions about how the SNP suddenly found this money a matter of weeks after Nicola Sturgeon's most senior former adviser was appointed a director of the festival. 'While the book festival is ultimately crucial for Scotland's culture and Edinburgh's economy, many will be thinking this is not a mere coincidence. The SNP was only scrambling to find this funding because Baillie Gifford was hounded out from its long-held sponsorship by climate activists. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "SNP ministers should come clean on how this funding was awarded and if there was any lobbying from former colleagues who were once at the heart of the nationalist government." Lloyd worked for the Scottish Government for nearly a decade as Sturgeon's top aide, working closely with current FM Swinney who was then deputy FM. Lloyd was Sturgeon's chief of staff from 2014 until 2021 then a strategic adviser until the ex-FM quit in 2023, when Lloyd also left her post. The book festival said it would be 'spurious' and 'misleading' to suggest any link between Lloyd's appointment and the announcement of the cash, which it said had been planned for months. The event's government funding has more than doubled in the past year to a record £820,000. Announcing the £300,000 grant on Wednesday, SNP Business Minister Richard Lochhead said it would help schoolkids continue to access free literary events. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. The book festival had previously warned its ability to deliver a successful event had been 'severely compromised' by the ending of its relationship with finance firm Baillie Gifford. The deal was cancelled after activists with the Fossil Free Books campaign targeted book festivals across Britain. The Scottish Government said: 'The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one the country's most significant cultural institutions. Its schools programme has been crucial in fostering literacy and cultural engagement among young people. 'Supported by the increase in funding for festivals announced in the 2025-26 Scottish Budget, this funding secures those benefits for young readers across Edinburgh, helping schools that might otherwise struggle with travel costs' Glasgow's Aye Write literary festival had to cancel last year's event after its bid for funding from government quango Creative Scotland was turned down. It is set to be revived.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish Government plugs book festival Baillie Gifford gap
The deal, which will help reduce the cost of school trips to the festival, was signed off by ministers several months ago but has not been previously announced. Read more: It is part of an enhanced package of support for the event, which has seen its government funding more than doubled in the space of 12 months, to a record £820,000. A further £160,000 increase planned for the next financial year is expected to see the festival's government funding rise by more than £1.5m by 2027-2028 compared to the last three years of Baillie Gifford's involvement with the event, which it supported through its schools and children's programme. The Edinburgh International Book Festival has an extensive programme of events for children and school pupils. (Image: Aly Wight/Edinburgh International Book Festival) Although the EIBF has this year introduced a £4 ticket per pupil charge for events in its schools programme, which were previously free of charge, the new support is expected to help more schools meet the costs of getting to and from the festival. Teachers and librarians can also apply for free tickets for pupils who would otherwise miss out. The Edinburgh International Book Festival is now based at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. (Image: Chris Scott) The plug was pulled on the Edinburgh-based finance firm's involvement in the book festival last spring after the escalation of a campaign triggered the previous summer over its links with the fossil fuel industry. Climate activist Greta Thunberg pulled out of a sold-out appearance at the 2023 festival, protesters staged a walk-out from an event and 50 writers threatened to boycott the EIBF in future if it did not sever its links with Baillie Gifford. The Fossil Free Books campaign went on to target book festivals across Britain, including the Edinburgh event, last May by demanding that they sever all links with Baillie Gifford due to its involvement in the coal, oil and gas sectors. Hundreds of writers backed an open letter warning festivals to 'expect escalation, including the expansion of boycotts, increased author withdrawal of labour, and increased disruption.' Announcing the ending of the partnership with Baillie Gifford just two weeks after the open letter was published, the Edinburgh book festival said its ability to deliver a safe and successful event had been 'severely compromised.' At the time, EIBF director Jenny Niven said: 'It will be infinitely harder to build and sustain well-funded cultural institutions in the future than it is to put them out of business today." Allan Little, the then book festival chair, said: 'Without the support of our partners and donors, the future of festivals like is in jeopardy.' First Minister John Swinney later accused campaigners against Baillie Gifford's sponsorship of jeopardising cultural events and of running a 'misplaced' campaign against the company. A number of leading Scottish writers, including Alexander McCall Smith, Andrew O'Hagan, Chris Brookmyre, Denise Mina, Doug Johnstone, David Greig, Liz Lochhead and Val McDermid, backed a separate open letter describing the targeting of book festivals as 'deeply retrograde' and 'ill thought-out.' Many of the writers who backed the Fossil Free Books campaign are taking part in this year's Edinburgh book festival, including Ali Smith, Hannah Lavery, Jess Brough, Raymond Antrobus, Chitra Ramaswamy, Andrés N Ordorica, Harry Josephine Giles and Katie Goh. The bulk of the government's support for the Edinburgh book festival comes via its arts agency Creative Scotland. A new deal confirmed in January saw the event's core funding increase from £919,000 over the last three years to £1.88m over the next three. As well as the £300,000 ringfenced for the festival's schools programme over the next three years, the EIBF has also seen its annual support from the government's Festival Expo Fund doubled, to £200,000, after ministers agreed to boost support for events in Edinburgh and Glasgow by £1.1m. The newly-announced support for the book festival has emerged after the government agreed to invest an additional £4 million in cultural events across Scotland in this financial year. It announced one-off support to the tune of £300,000 for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society in March. Ms Niven, who is overseeing her second festival as director, said: "The work the book festival does for children and young people is a cornerstone of what we do. "Publishing for children and young people has never been more vibrant, and the benefits of reading never better evidenced. "The festival is perfectly positioned to help children engage with the amazing range and breadth of stories around them, to support teachers to use books imaginatively and creatively in learning, and to supply older kids with the tools to think critically, and learn to evaluate the deluge of info around them. "This aspect of what we do is vital, and we're delighted to have specific public funding support to develop this work further in the coming years. 'We've identified the cost of transport as a key barrier to a wider cohort of schools joining us in August, and are committed to maintaining free access for as many children as possible. "We're delighted that the Scottish Government's increased support for festivals has delivered public funding to develop this work further in the coming years. We look forward to widening our reach across Scotland and exploring further the digital potential of what we do.' Richard Lochhead, the government's minister for business and employment, said: "The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one the country's most significant cultural institutions. "Its schools programme has been crucial in fostering literacy and cultural engagement among young people, with thousands of pupils benefiting annually from free events and resources. 'This funding secures those benefits for young readers across Edinburgh, helping schools that might otherwise struggle with travel costs, and ensuring they have the same opportunity to take part in one of the world's leading literary festivals.'
The Guardian
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Funding fights, memoirs by Boris Becker and Stallone, plus the queen of romantasy: this year's London book fair
Contentious classics, book-to-screen adaptations and the future of festival funding were some of the hottest topics at this week's London book fair, which saw around 30,000 agents, authors, translators, publishers and other industry professionals meet in Olympia, London, across three days to hammer out rights deals and discuss the future of publishing. Here is our roundup of some of the takeaways from this year's fair, and a taste of the books we can expect to see in shops in the near future. In case you missed last summer's festival funding fiasco: fund manager Baillie Gifford came under fire for its investments in fossil fuels and companies linked to Israel, which resulted in partnerships between the firm and nine literary festivals it sponsored being cut. At this week's fair, English PEN made the bold but much-needed move to get the stakeholders in the same room at the same time. A representative of the campaign group Fossil Free Books, Jessica Gaitán Johannesson, said that its members had seen an opportunity to make a difference and protest injustices that many of them had written about. However, Fiona Razvi, the director of Wimbledon BookFest – which had previously been sponsored by Baillie Gifford – said that 'attacking an investment company which passed our scrutiny, which we were very happy with – they were a force for good, as far as I can see, in our industry – I'm not so sure that was the right way', to loud applause. It feels like an exciting time for book-to-screen adaptations, with The Thursday Murder Club and Guillermo del Toro's version of Frankenstein among many other much-anticipated films in the works. Indeed, films based on books typically do significantly better at the box office than those with original screenplays. The challenge of turning novels into films and series went under the microscope at this year's fair, with authors and producers each pulling back the curtain on the obstacle-ridden process. Lucy Clarke, whose book The Castaways was turned into a hit series for Paramount+, said that she never writes specifically for screen, but 'obviously there's that lovely glittery hope that maybe it'll get picked up'. Love was in the air at the fair, with a spate of new acquisitions in the romance and romance-adjacent space: Tess Sharpe's romance-action thriller No Body No Crime; a three-book series by BookTok star Tierney Page; Patrick Ness's novel Meridian; and Remain, a romantic thriller from Nicholas Sparks and M Night Shyamalan. Plus, queen of romantasy Rebecca Yarros will have her blockbuster Empyrean books, beginning with Fourth Wing, adapted into a six-part graphic novel series. 'There is something so special about seeing your words come to life through art,' she said. What should publishers do with classic books containing offensive language or ideas? They might include footnotes or an introduction by a contemporary author to add context. Or they might decide the text isn't worth publishing any more. Children are handed classics and told 'this is something that you must revere, this is something you must value', said Aimée Felone, managing director of children's publisher Knights Of. Yet, a 'classic' is a 'socially constructed' thing, said Maria Bedford, editorial director at Scribe. Whether or not to continue publishing problematic work by historically admired authors is a nuanced, ever-changing conversation that publishers are still working out how to have, the fair's panel made clear. Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion Developing the next generation of readers was a key focus of talks at the fair. Authors Kit de Waal and Clare Mackintosh discussed the literacy 'crisis', while Waterstones CEO James Daunt and Hachette CEO David Shelley discussed ways the industry could help tackle the decline in children reading for pleasure. However, it wasn't all negative: Daunt reported that 'kids are in the stores everywhere, on both sides of the Atlantic'. Starry memoirs were served up, with deals inked for Sylvester Stallone's The Steps, to be published in October this year, and Boris Becker's Inside: Winning, Losing, Starting Again, about life during and after his prison sentence for hiding £2.5m in assets and loans.
