Palestine protesters removed from Fringe event with John Swinney

The First Minster was speaking at the Stand Comedy Club

Protesters in the crowd held up signs spelling "genocide"
Author: Molly TulettPublished 2nd Aug 2025

A group of pro-Palestinian protesters have been removed from an event with the First Minister at the Edinburgh Fringe.

John Swinney was speaking to comedian Susan Morrison at the Stand Comedy Club when they were disrupted five times by six different groups of protesters, who held up signs which spelled “genocide”.

Tensions between the protesters and the crowd rose as the event went on, and three police officers were eventually called in, while the First Minister’s security team was forced to keep people back from berating Mr Swinney on the stage.

The protesters were calling for him to stop funding arms companies through the government’s commercial arm Scottish Enterprise, as well as to describe the ongoing crisis in Gaza as a genocide.

"We are fully opposed to the genocide in Palestine"

The First Minister was largely quiet throughout the protests.

A spokesperson for the Stand Comedy Club said: "We had no prior knowledge of this event but we are fully opposed to the genocide in Gaza and as a company have taken practical steps to loudly support Palestinian human rights, including fundraising for humantarian agencies.

"This year for the first time ever we are proud to welcome the Palestine Comedy Club in our venue and we will continue to program future events which will demonstrate our solidarity with the people of Palestine."

The First Minister had said in a video posted to his social media on Thursday (31 July) that "there has to be a Palestinian sovereign state declared now".

"We need peace"

His comments came after the Prime Minister announced the UK would recognise Palestinian statehood in September, unless Israel takes "substantive steps" to reach a ceasefire in Gaza.

Israel have said Westminster's position "constitutes a reward for Hamas".

Mr Swinney's video continued: "The people of Gaza have suffered immeasurably.

"We need peace, we need a two state solution, and we need it now.

"No ifs."

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