Pro-Palestine protesters threaten to disrupt one of London’s biggest Christmas events over Barclays sponsorship

Pro-Palestine protesters have threatened to disrupt one of the largest Christmas events in London over its ties to Barclays.

Campaigners have called for the boycott of Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball, which is set to be held next weekend at the O2 arena.

The show, headlined by Katy Perry and Coldplay, will reportedly be picketed by protesters from The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Palestine Action.

Speaking to The Telegraph, a spokesman for the PSC said they were urging people not to attend the Jingle Bell Ball and other events sponsored by Barclays.

The spokesman said: “Barclays is using its support of arts and culture to launder its financial links to military operations in Gaza and give themselves respectability.”

“Families in Gaza don’t have the freedom or safety to celebrate Christmas and would love to see an end to this conflict.”

Coldplay’s Chris Martin has been a vocal voice on the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

He called for peace between the two during Coldplay’s headline show at Glastonbury this summer, and performed a duet with Palestinian singer Elyanna.

This boycott could place significant pressure on the singer to pull out of the Jingle Ball.

The protest is part of a larger campaign against Barclays over their financial links to defence-industry companies which activists claim provide weapons to Israel.

Other protest tactics that have been used include blockades and sit-ins at Barclays Bank branches since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.

Barclays previously suspended its sponsorship of all music festivals this year, staged by promoter Live Nation, after several acts pulled out in protest.

The company has hit out at protestors and calls for boycotts – as chiefs say the firm remain committed to supporting defence companies which are an “essential part of keeping this country and our allies safe.”

Barclays also said activists had harassed and intimidated staff and vandalised their branches.

They added: “The only thing that this small group of activists will achieve is to weaken essential support for cultural events enjoyed by millions.”

“It is time that leaders across politics, business, academia and the arts stand united against this.”