Edinburgh book festival ends investment firm sponsorship over Israel ties
The Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) has ended a 20-year partnership with asset management firm Baillie Gifford following pressure from activists over its ties to Israeli technology and military companies, as well as the fossil fuel industry.
In an announcement on Thursday evening, EIBF’s board cited security concerns and said that “threats of disruption” had “compromised” their ability to deliver a “safe and successful” event.
“The pressure on our team has simply become intolerable,” EIBF's chief executive, Jenny Niven, said.
The announcement follows the Hay Festival's decision last week to suspend its arrangements with Baillie Gifford after a series of cancellations by speakers and performers - including Charlotte Church, Nish Kumar, Labour Party peer Shami Chakrabarti and MP Dawn Butler - over the sponsorship.