Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has strongly condemned punk duo Bob Vylan for what he described as “appalling hate speech” during their controversial Glastonbury set.
The band’s frontman, Bobby Vylan, led chants of “Free Palestine” and “Death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces), sparking outrage among government officials, the BBC, and the wider public.
The chants were made during a live BBC broadcast on the West Holts Stage on Saturday, prompting an on-screen warning from the broadcaster about "very strong and discriminatory language."
The BBC later confirmed the set would not be available on iPlayer, stating some comments were “deeply offensive”.
Glastonbury Festival organisers also issued a joint statement with founder Emily Eavis, saying they were “appalled” by the performance and that the chants had “very much crossed a line”.
They reiterated their stance against antisemitism, hate speech, and incitement to violence.
Sir Keir, who had earlier criticised the inclusion of Irish-language rap group Kneecap in the line-up, said:
“There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence.”
The prime minister’s remarks were echoed by senior cabinet ministers. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy reportedly demanded answers from BBC Director-General Tim Davie, while Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Bobby Vylan of “inciting violence and hatred” and called for police to investigate both the artist and the BBC.
Philp argued that the BBC may have violated broadcasting laws.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting joined the criticism, calling the performance “revolting” and referencing the October 7 attack by Hamas at an Israeli music festival, in which civilians were kidnapped and killed.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism also issued a scathing response, accusing Glastonbury of descending into “a pit of extremism and hatred” and slamming the BBC for airing the performance.
The group said it would lodge a formal complaint over both Bob Vylan and Kneecap.
Kneecap's set, initially not streamed live due to editorial concerns, was later made available on iPlayer with edits and warnings. The group has also come under scrutiny after member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (aka Mo Chara) was charged with a terrorism offence for displaying a Hezbollah flag during a performance in 2023.
Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed they are reviewing footage from both acts to determine if any criminal offences occurred.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police announced that it would not pursue charges over a separate April incident involving Kneecap, citing the expiry of statutory time limits for summary offences.
As the controversy continues, Glastonbury organisers are under pressure to review artist vetting procedures, while public debate intensifies over the boundaries between artistic expression and hate speech in live performances.
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