Adobe StockScotland’s culture secretary has said the UK should not take part in Eurovision if Israel is allowed to compete next year.
On Wednesday, SNP MSP Angus Robertson said the UK should boycott the Eurovision Song Contest “as genocide continues in Gaza”.
Broadcasters in Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, Iceland and the Netherlands have already said they won’t take part in Eurovision if Israel participates.
In a letter to both the BBC director general and the UK culture secretary, Robertson said the UK should follow suit.
“The Eurovision song contest is a celebration of culture and diversity, but it cannot be separated from the responsibilities that come with international participation,” Robertson wrote.
The minister emphasised that Russia was excluded from the contest after invading Ukraine.
Robertson said Russia’s exclusion “set a precedent that the competition cannot turn a blind eye to grave breaches of international law”.
His letter added: “I therefore strongly urge the UK Government and the BBC, as the UK’s member broadcaster in the European Broadcasting Union, to join other EBU members in calling for Israel’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest.”
Eurovision director Martin Green said it was up to each state to decide if it wanted to take part in the contest.
“We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” Mr Green said earlier this month.
“We are still consulting with all EBU members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Eurovision Song Contest.
“Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year’s event in Vienna.
“It is up to each member to decide if they want to take part in the contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.”
Last week, BBC director general Tim Davie said he was also “very aware of the concerns”.
“Eurovision never has been about politics and should be a celebration of music and culture that brings people together.
“That is really important, that we try and preserve throughout, but at this stage, I’m supporting the European Broadcasting Union’s work, and they need to get on with it.
“This is a contest which is about the broadcasters from that nation submitting a song, ensuring that process works properly and is truly apolitical.
“There’s quite a lot of detail to get through for the European Broadcasting Union.
“Then as an independent BBC, we will look at that, and then we can go from there.”
STV News has contacted the BBC press team for updated statements.
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