A government minister has called on green energy entrepreneur and former Labour donor Dale Vince to issue an apology for a social media post he made following the deadly terror attack at Bondi Beach in Australia.
Controversial comments spark political row
Mr Vince, the founder of Ecotricity and chairman of Forest Green Rovers, faced widespread criticism for a post on Sunday, 15 December 2025. This came after gunmen targeted a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people. In his original post, Mr Vince wrote that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "wants antisemitism to be a thing" and suggested it was linked to Israel's actions in Gaza.
He later posted a clarification on Monday, 16 December, stating his words "were not intended to excuse or legitimise terrorism, or any form of racism" and called the Bondi Beach incident an atrocity. He maintained his criticism was aimed at Mr Netanyahu's intervention, which he described as overlooking the impacts of his own government's actions.
Minister calls for apology and donation review
Health and Care Minister Stephen Kinnock, the MP for Aberafan Maesteg, directly addressed the controversy in an interview with LBC. He stated that it was wrong to collectively blame Jewish people for the actions of the Israeli government.
"I think he should apologise for that tweet," Mr Kinnock said, referring to Mr Vince's initial post. The minister suggested the Labour Party could then review its position on whether to accept any future donations from the businessman. It is understood that Mr Vince is not currently a Labour Party member or donor.
Political reactions and Labour's stance
The incident has drawn sharp reactions from across the political spectrum. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch labelled Mr Vince's statement as "morally repugnant" and called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to condemn him.
A Labour Party spokesperson reiterated the party's condemnation of the "sickening" antisemitic attack in Bondi. The spokesperson emphasised that there should never be any excuses for terrorism and that the Labour government stands with Jewish communities globally. They also highlighted Sir Keir Starmer's ongoing priority of tackling antisemitism.
In his comments, Mr Kinnock also argued for a more nuanced public discourse, stating, "We've got to get away from this polarisation, this binary position all the time." He expressed that people should be able to show solidarity with Jewish communities while also expressing views on the situation in Gaza.
