The Bookseller - News - Literary festivals look at uncertain future after 'massive' Baillie Gifford loss

Last week Baillie Gifford withdrew its financial support for all UK-based literary festivals after campaign group Fossil Free Books lobbied against its investments in fossil fuels and companies that operate in Israel. Both the Hay Festival and the Edinburgh International Book Festival withdrew from long-term partnerships with the group amid author withdrawals and the threat of further protests, with Edinburgh's organisers describing the pressure as "intolerable". Other festivals had their funding withdrawn by Baillie Gifford. The Bookseller understands that the Hay Festival has filed a serious incident report with the Charity Commission and passed on information to the local police.