AN overwhelming majority of Brits support Israel being banned from Eurovision, a new poll has found.
The poll, conducted by Find Out Now, found 82% of people in the UK think Israel should not be allowed to compete in next year's competition, while 69% said they backed the UK pulling out if Israel does compete.
It comes as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which runs the singing contest, announced on Thursday that each country taking part in Eurovision will be invited to vote on whether Israel will participate in 2026 at an emergency meeting in early November.
Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands have already said they will boycott Eurovision is Israel is allowed to take part, with Scottish Government Culture Secretary Angus Robertson calling for the BBC to make a similar move.
Last week, BBC director general Tim Davie said the broadcaster is "aware of the concerns" but insisted the contest has "never been about politics".
The Find Out Now poll, which surveyed 1093 UK adults between September 23 and 24, revealed nearly three-quarters think banning Russia from the competition but not Israel is inconsistent, with that figure rising to 80% for fans of Eurovision.
Support for the UK withdrawing from Eurovision if Israel is allowed to take part is strong for voters of every political party except Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
The poll was commissioned by Pablo O'Hana, a senior political adviser and campaign strategist who served prominent political figures and worked on the Remain campaign and Kamala Harris's historic bid for the White House.
O'Hana is also a Eurovision superfan, hosting an annual feast every year which involves food from 35 countries, custom LED wristbands and 250ft of decorations.
Commenting, he said: “Eurovision was born from the rubble of the Second World War to unite a fractured continent through music. For nearly 70 years, it has done just that – evolving into one of the world’s most successful peace projects, pulling in hundreds of millions of people and discovering some of the greatest artists of all time.
“The EBU were right to exclude Russia after its unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, and I was so proud of my country when we hosted in Liverpool on behalf of our neighbours under siege."
O'Hana said organisers now "risk ripping out the soul" of Eurovision, adding: "The EBU’s refusal to apply the same principle to Israel is forcing members to take a stand or face a credibility crisis.
“The British public can see that double standard – and they want the UK to stand with our allies like Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands in walking away."
O'Hanna continued: “The United Kingdom has a long and proud history of standing up for what is right. We are at our best when we act as the moral compass for the world, never flinching in the face of aggression – whether that was Hitler in the past or Putin today.
“Yet on Eurovision, we are increasingly isolated and failing to show the same principle, consistency and leadership.
“The UK’s participation in Eurovision 2026 without any meaningful dissent could be seen as an endorsement of Israel’s actions in Palestine. That is not who we are.
“The BBC is the public’s broadcaster. It exists to serve the people who fund it – and these findings show exactly where the public stand.
“Eurovision isn’t just about songs and staging – it’s about values. If Israel is permitted to compete, the people of Britain believe we should walk away. The BBC must get a backbone and listen.”
