UK MPs react to Martin Green's confession that Russia could be readmitted to Eurovision whilst Putin's illegal war in Ukraine is still going on:
Conservative MP and Shadow Culture Secretary @HuddlestonNigel said:
“The Eurovision Song Contest brings nations together through creative competition, underpinned by the principle of international cooperation.
“Russia stands completely against that principle. It would be outrageous to allow Russia to participate in Eurovision in light of the horrific violence the regime continues to mete out in Ukraine. Doing so would send a terrible signal to the Ukrainian people who have suffered through so much.
“The Conservatives remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine and will always stand firmly with all of our allies in confronting foreign aggression.”
Liberal Democrat MP @TomGordonLD:
“Martin Green has spent this week telling the world that Eurovision is a neutral space built on values.
“We now know those values are conditional. If enough countries look the other way, they will too.
“This is a stunning, jaw-dropping admission and it is moral cowardice.
“The EBU told the world it stood with Ukraine. Millions of us believed them and when the UK hosted the contest on Ukraine’s behalf, we did so with immense pride and unconditional solidarity.
“Now we learn that was never the principle at all, it was just a technicality and Russia could walk back into Eurovision while its missiles are still falling on Kyiv.
“This is an appalling betrayal of our allies. Martin Green must correct the record and reassure us that Russia will not be permitted back into Eurovision whilst Putin’s war in Ukraine is ongoing."
Labour MP @JoshNewburyMP said:
"Martin Green has just demolished his own argument with a two-word response.
“For four years, the EBU has hidden behind the language of values and democratic process. We now know that when it mattered, the decision to ban Russia had nothing to do with values or principle at all.
“The EBU is making it up as it goes along, and the BBC – a public broadcaster accountable to this country – is sitting at that table nodding along. That has to change.
“The United Kingdom is a proud and reliable ally to Ukraine. There is no way I, nor the British people, will stand by and watch an aggressor welcomed back onto the world’s biggest cultural stage.
“Theoretical or not, Green must clarify his comments immediately.”
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