A new four‑day vegan festival in London, billed as being “built on principles of love and kindness for all sentient beings” has been cancelled after complaints from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI).
The Scout Association cancelled the Great Vegan Festival’s venue booking just weeks before the event was to take place at their Gilwell Park Activity Centre in Chingford.
The association pulled the plug after UKLFI wrote to management warning them that several acts on the line‑up were “antisemitic”.
A statement from the Great Vegan Gathering read:
After pressure from UK Lawyers for Israel, Gilwell Park decided to cancel our venue hire contract just weeks before the event. As vegans, we oppose oppression in any context and therefore stand resolutely against Israel’s genocide of Palestinian humans and animals in Gaza.
It is deeply regrettable that an event seeking to raise funds for rescued animals at sanctuaries was attacked by UKLFI, an anti-Palestinian group that has repeatedly targeted cultural events and organisations.
The Scout Association has cancelled a venue booking by a vegan music festival after @UKLFI warned that bands on its line-up had promoted material alleged to be antisemitic and supportive of violence against Israelis. Read more: https://t.co/66wGB1NVa6
— UK Lawyers For Israel (@UKLFI) July 30, 2026
UKLFI accuses musicians of ‘endorsing violence’
UKLFI claimed the musicians had published or performed material that “endorsed violence, vilified Israel and Israelis, and risked stirring up racial hatred”.
The bands HAWXX, Active Slaughter, and Millie Manders and the Shutup were specifically mentioned by UKLFI. They had previously spoken up against ‘Israel’s’ genocide, colonialism and fascism, and the criminal IOF.
UKLFIhighlighted several of their songs, to justify its actions.
One of these was Active Slaughter’s song, It’s Not Anti-Semitic to Hate Fascists**, which UKLFI claimed “accuses Israeli forces of killing ‘for fun’ and planting knives beside injured Palestinian teenagers”. But this is true, as this film about Palestinian human rights defenders in Hebron clearly shows.
Israeli forces have filmed knives being planted beside Palestinian youths on more than one occasion.
UKLFI also claimed that if the festival went ahead in its proposed form, it could expose the Scout Association, as the venue operator, to legal, safeguarding and reputational risks.
Andrew Thorp, deputy public relations lead for the Scout Association, told us:
A decision has been made to cancel the hire of our venue for The Great Vegan Gathering at Gilwell Park.
Following the initial confirmation of the booking, we conducted a review into some actions taken by the event organisers. The review concluded that these actions were not consistent with Scout values or our venue hire policies.
As a result, we have informed the organisers that the event will not proceed at Gilwell Park.
We remain committed to ensuring that all activity taking place at our venues reflects our values and supports an inclusive, respectful and welcoming environment for everyone.”
The Canary asked Thorp for more details, but he did not respond further.
Repeat targeting of cultural organisations and events
Anyone cancelling the use of their venue based on this should be absolutely ashamed, and consulting their lawyers @scoutadventures
All solidarity with the Great Vegan Gathering.@MiddleEastEye pic.twitter.com/JT49cZky0O
— Stop genocide. End apartheid. Free Palestine
(@JonWooders) July 30, 2026
JJ Maguire, a singer in Active Slaughter, told Middle East Eye:
My Jewish granddad escaped persecution in Nazi Germany, but many of his family members were murdered…It’s with him in mind that I founded a band which, in keeping with punk traditions, refuses far right politics wherever it rears its head.
***
I was absolutely appalled to learn that UK Lawyers for Israel had mounted an attack on our pro-Palestine free speech.
Millie Manders, from the band, Millie Manders and the Shutup, said:
My band and I are proud to support justice for all animals and humans. This includes opposing Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, a position shared by millions of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, and atheists – people from every background.
Manders added:
We will never stop advocating for what’s right.
Attempted erasure of Palestine
UKLFI uses tactics of “legal intimidation” to silence pro-Palestine, or anti-‘Israel’ speech and activism. It sends letters, suggesting the possibility of legal action, while events are told they raise legal or equality concerns. The institution on the receiving end then risks legal action, costs and reputational damage.
By doing this the organisation erodes democratic rights as it aims to erase Palestine from public life. It has taken matters upon itself to police our speech and actions. Academic institutions, the internet, sports, public institutions, charities, councils, companies and individuals have all come under fire****.****
In 2026, its actions led to the cancellation of academic events and the banning of Palestine Solidarity symbols worn by various railway, airport and hospital staff. It has also influenced guidance on investment of council pension funds.
Worryingly, two encyclopedias were told by UKLFI that their referencing to Palestine was incorrect. In addition, academic institutions have changed the description and wording of courses to remove the word ‘Palestine’.
Of course, UKLFI is lying when it states its concerns are “rooted in historical accuracy and educational responsibility”.
The Scouts have been repeatedly targeted. In January, UKLFI wrote to a north London Scout group after an adult leader wore a keffiyeh, arguing the conduct may amount to harassment under the Equality Act.
In February, UKLFI wrote again after staff were seen wearing symbols of support for Palestine.
…@UklfiT has written to a North London Scout group after being informed that an adult leader at a Beavers meeting for children aged six to eight wore a keffiyeh, a garment with widely recognised political significance connected to the Palestinian cause. https://t.co/OBaLqtrVy1
— UK Lawyers For Israel (@UKLFI) January 17, 2026
UKLFI’s role in shutting down Palestine discourse
In August 2025, UKLFI complained to Hertfordshire Scouts about Camp Wilayah, an annual Islamic children’s summer camp on its land. UKLFI alleged breaches of the Public Order Act, the Counter‑Terrorism and Security Act and the Children Act. The Scouts cancelled the booking, even though the camp had taken place for more than 13 years with no complaints.
The European Legal Support Centre (ELSC) and Forensic Architecture labelled UKLFI a “major actor” in the repression of pro‑Palestinian activism in the UK.
It exploits the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which equates criticism of ‘Israel’ with antisemitism. It also exploits terror legislation to create a chilling effect on pro-Palestine discourse.
Various organisations are taking action against UKLFI’s threatening behaviour and weaponisation of the law.
The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) and ELSC have filed a 114‑page complaint with the Solicitors Regulation Authority. They claim UKLFI is using legal threats as a form of strategic intimidation to shut down public debate on Palestine. As such, they are calling for UKLFI to be regulated as an unregistered law firm.
The Charity Commission is also investigating UKLFI’s charitable wing after a complaint by CAGE. CAGE accused it of “engaging in vexatious and malicious complaints” against pro-Palestinian activism, while “masquerading as a charity.”
Senior barristers linked to the group also face a separate complaint over their role as patrons.
$730 million hasbara budget making no difference
Pressure from UKLFI is part of a much larger, state‑backed effort to manage the occupation’s global image. In 2026, the ‘Israeli’ government approved a public diplomacy budget of roughly $730 million.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar argues that managing ‘Israel’s’ image should be treated like “investing in jets, bombs, and missile interceptors”.
More than $50 million is going into digital ad buys, around $40 million into flying in delegations, and tens of millions more into influencer networks, AI‑driven content tools and targeted campaigns aimed at US universities and young Americans, where support for ‘Israel’ has plummeted.
Despite this unprecedented propaganda budget, unfavourable views continue to rise. No amount of money or digital campaigns can buy back the truth. The official story, framing ‘Israel’ as a democracy under threat, which treats all criticism as antisemitism and refers Palestinian resistance as terrorism, is starting to fall apart.
Featured image via Vegan FTA
By Charlie Jaay
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