Senior Labour ministers have publicly turned on the party's millionaire donor, Dale Vince, following controversial comments he made about anti-Semitism in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney. However, they stopped short of committing to refuse his future financial support.
Ministers Demand Apology for Social Media Posts
The green energy tycoon, who has donated millions to Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, was told by two government ministers to apologise for remarks he posted on social media platform X. His comments came after 15 people were murdered at a Hannukah event in Sydney on Monday.
Mr Vince used the platform to lash out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explicitly linking the Sydney attack to the Israeli military action in Gaza. This followed Mr Netanyahu's rebuke of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in which he called anti-Semitism "a cancer (that) spreads when leaders remain silent" regarding Australia's support for a Palestinian state.
In his now-deleted post, Mr Vince wrote: 'Nothing to do with Israel committing genocide in Palestine then? Netanyahu wants anti-Semitism to be a thing, it validates him - he acts to make it so.'
Labour's Public Rebuke and Delicate Position on Donations
Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Health Secretary Wes Streeting addressed the issue directly. While describing Mr Vince as "a decent minded person", he firmly stated: 'However strongly one might feel about what’s going on in Israel and Palestine that is no excuse to support or condone or to suggest that anti-Semitism is caused by the actions of Israel.'
Mr Streeting emphasised that anti-Semitism "exists in the hearts of the perpetrators" and must be tackled there. Crucially, he confirmed the party had not received any donations from Mr Vince since the general election, but said decisions on future donations were a matter for party officials, leaving the door open.
His position was echoed by Care Minister Stephen Kinnock in an interview with LBC. Mr Kinnock said: '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.'
He suggested Mr Vince's initial tweet could have given that impression and called for an apology, stating: 'I think he should apologise for that tweet... Let’s ensure that he apologises. And I think we can review the position and take a decision on that basis.'
Vince's Clarification and Starmer's Condemnation of the Attack
Following the criticism, Dale Vince moved to clarify his remarks. He stated his words "were not intended to excuse or legitimise terrorism, or any form of racism" and called the Bondi Beach incident "an atrocity".
He defended his critique of Netanyahu, arguing the Israeli leader overlooks the impacts of his own actions. Mr Vince added: 'If anti-Semitism is rising in the world today then surely on any rational analysis, the biggest single cause of that will be the genocide in Palestine. I condemn all acts of violence and all forms of racism.'
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the Sydney attack, whose victims included rabbis and a young girl, as "an appalling terror attack". Speaking to the Commons Liaison Committee, he said the tragedy had impacted Jewish communities globally, including in the UK, leaving them feeling "even more insecure".
The episode highlights the ongoing tension within the Labour Party as it navigates its relationship with major donors, the heated discourse surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict, and its firm public stance against anti-Semitism.
