London Mayor Sadiq Khan denied political messaging in his city’s fireworks show for New Year’s Day by confirming that Israel’s flag was not altered for the show.
Thursday’s fireworks display included a brief digital display of every flag from around the world on the London Eye, the city’s iconic Ferris wheel. The Israeli and Palestinian flags were shown.
However, the display brought controversy, as the Star of David in the center of the Israeli flag appeared not to be visible to all. Among the most notable critics was Councilor George Madgwick, who leads Portsmouth’s ReformUK Group.
“The Star of David was removed from the Israeli flag during last night’s fireworks display at the London Eye. Just a white flag, with two blue stripes and the Jewish symbol gone,” Madgwick wrote on X on Thursday. “@MayorofLondon Sadiq care to explain this one? We will wait.”
When asked for confirmation, London City Hall provided the Washington Examiner with a video that clearly displayed the Star of David.
“The Star of David was not removed from the Israeli flag shown during the New Year’s Eve display, and the attached video shows this. A range of flags were displayed on the London Eye to represent the wide variety of countries of origin of people who live in and contribute to the success of London,” a City Hall spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
“These animated flags were small and moving, so not all were entirely clear at every point as they gradually formed into the Union Flag. This affected a number of blue and white flags, including Guatemala, Argentina, and Honduras,” the spokesperson added.
A spokesperson for Khan also addressed further controversies with the show. While the New Year’s show has previously included commercial partnerships and the city solicits “brand activation opportunities” on its website, the film Wicked: For Good was included on the London Eye. Actress Cynthia Erivo appeared as her character Elphaba, a green witch. Erivo hails from Stockwell, London.
“City Hall is committed to ensuring the best value for Londoners, and every year we consider a range of options to enhance our world-famous New Year’s Eve fireworks. The smash hit film ‘Wicked: For Good’ and its London star Cynthia Erivo featured in the display as part of an event partnership with Universal Pictures, and in keeping with our celebration of cultural moments from the year,” a Khan spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
Khan himself also addressed the Universal Pictures partnership in a post on X on Thursday.
“What makes us unique is what makes us special. A lesson to all of us from Wicked: For Good,” Khan wrote.
The show also depicted the European Union flag on the London Eye. This was a notable shoutout to the EU as the United Kingdom marked nearly five years since leaving it. However, a Khan spokesperson explained that the symbol was meant to commemorate “Europe’s success in the Ryder Cup, and sent a message of togetherness for 2026.”
“Hope over fear, unity over division. As we head into 2026, our New Year’s fireworks lit up the skies with a clear message about the importance of togetherness,” Khan captioned a video of the New Year’s show on X on Wednesday.
Critics blasted the overall messaging in the celebration.
“Christ if I didn’t dislike Sadiq Khan, London Mayor, enough already. That virtue signalling rubbish for the midnight fireworks on BBC just tipped it for me,” Madgwick wrote on X. “The weasel can’t make anything be non-political can he.”
“Sadiq Khan wasting no time humiliating Britain in 2026. The man is a disgrace,” MP Rupert Lowe, a former Conservative-turned-independent, said on X.
“Hardly any Union Jacks & no National Anthem at the end. The London fireworks were a disgrace. Sadiq Khan hold your head in shame!” former MP Michael Take wrote on X.
Far too many fireworks.
Loud wrap music full of indecipherable words.
I’m sure many fish have sustained injuries.
Hardly any Union Jacks & no National Anthem at the end.
The London fireworks were a disgrace.
Sadiq Khan hold your head in shame!pic.twitter.com/MF64Lehiv5
— Sir Michael Take CBE (@MichaelTakeMP) January 1, 2026
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“My New Year’s resolution is to work even harder to expose Sadiq Khan’s dreadful decisions for us Londoners!” Khan’s former opponent for mayor, Susan Hall, wrote on X. Hall is currently the leader of the Conservative group on the London Assembly.
Khan is the first mayor of London to win three terms, being reelected in 2024.
