The prominent Labour donor and green entrepreneur Dale Vince has provoked a fierce political row after stating that the Israeli government bears partial responsibility for a global rise in antisemitism, comments made in the wake of a deadly terror attack in Sydney.
Condemnation from Conservative Leadership
Vince, who has donated over £5 million to the Labour Party through his company Ecotricity, faced immediate criticism from senior Conservatives. The Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch, labelled his social media post a "morally repugnant statement" and directly challenged Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer to condemn his financial backer.
Badenoch's intervention came after Vince quoted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claim that "antisemitism spreads when leaders stay silent." Vince responded by writing: "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."
Vince's Clarification and Labour's Response
Following the backlash, Vince issued a clarification on Monday, insisting his words were "not intended to excuse or legitimise terrorism, or any form of racism." He described the Bondi beach assault, which killed 15 people at a Hanukah event, as an "atrocity." However, he stood by his core argument, stating: "If antisemitism is rising in the world today then surely on any rational analysis, the biggest single cause of that will be the genocide in Palestine."
A Labour spokesperson delivered a firm rebuke, asserting: "There can never and should never be any excuses made for barbaric acts of terrorism." The party emphasised its solidarity with Jewish communities globally and reiterated its commitment to tackling antisemitism. It is understood that Vince is not a Labour member and has not donated to the party since May 2024.
Political Donations Under Scrutiny
The controversy has reignited debates over political funding and the accountability of major donors. Conservative Party Chair Kevin Hollinrake demanded that Labour return all donations from Vince and refuse future ones, arguing that any language excusing terrorism "undermines our values."
This incident echoes recent scandals involving donor comments. Before the last election, the Conservatives faced similar pressure over their largest donor, businessman Frank Hester, after he made offensive remarks about MP Diane Abbott. The Tories ultimately kept his donations after he apologised.
Labour stated that all donations are assessed on a case-by-case basis, with party "values" being a key factor. As the fallout continues, the episode places Keir Starmer's leadership under fresh scrutiny regarding the sources of party funding and the boundaries of acceptable political discourse.
