A SCOTTISH museum has cancelled an event after a women’s group withdrew in protest over investor links to Israeli arms manufacturers.
Campaigners with the Gareloch Horties Women’s Peace Group withdrew from a National Museum of Scotland event on the Cold War due to a sponsorship deal with investment fund Ballie Gifford.
Baillie Gifford is an investor in Babcock International, a UK defence company linked to Israeli arms manufacturers. Babcock International’s shares soared during Israel’s war on Gaza.
The same firm was revealed to have given financial backing to an AI weapons start-up founded by a US tech billionaire with links to Donald Trump.
The cancelled event, titled "Banners, Ballads and Badges", was originally scheduled for March 8. It would have been part of the museum’s current flagship exhibition, "Cold War Scotland".
According to the National Museum of Scotland website, the exhibition draws on Scotland’s history of Cold War-era protest, particularly highlighting efforts to stop Trident’s introduction.
Gareloch Horties Peace Group, founded in 1984, campaigns against nuclear weapons and in support of Palestinians. The museum’s Cold War display was to feature the group’s campaigning efforts.
A spokesperson for the Gareloch Horties said in a statement: “It is sickening that Baillie Gifford profited from the destruction of life and property in Gaza.”
They added: “By accepting their sponsorship, National Museums Scotland have turned a blind eye to how that money was made.”
The National Museum of Scotland has been approached for comment.
This follows other events dropping Baillie Gifford as proprietors. The Borders Book Festival dropped the investment fund as an award sponsor following pressure from campaigners last year.
A leaked report last year revealed that Baillie Gifford canvassed local council pension funds it helps manage asking for views on its £17 million holding in defence company AeroVironment, which specialises in “killer drones”.
