Britain’s politicians are ramping up the pressure on the BBC after a chant of “death to the IDF” was broadcast live from Glastonbury.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK’s publicly funded broadcaster “needs to explain” why the live stream remained on air after the frontman of punk duo Bob Vylan led the crowd on Saturday in shouting “death, death” to the Israel Defence Forces.
Skills Minister Jacqui Smith weighed in on Monday morning, saying Bob Vylan’s actions had “undoubtedly crossed a line” and called for police to determine whether the language used constituted a criminal offence.
Smith added on Times Radio: “The BBC made a mistake here. It’s not good enough simply to say on screen that this is dodgy language.”
A government spokesperson confirmed that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has held discussions with BBC Director-General Tim Davie regarding the controversial performance.
Opposition figures have also piled on. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Bob Vylan of “inciting violence and hatred,” and suggested that the BBC should face prosecution for airing the incident.
Philp stated: “Our national broadcaster should not be transmitting hateful material designed to incite violence and conflict.”
Not the First Time Controversy Strikes Glastonbury
Bob Vylan aren’t alone in sparking outrage over positions on Israel’s war in Gaza. Irish hip-hop act Kneecap also performed at Glastonbury. One member, Liam Óg, is currently facing a terror charge—allegedly for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London gig. He denies the allegation.
The BBC chose not to livestream Kneecap’s set. Instead, an edited version was later made available online.
BBC Responds
A BBC spokesperson stated: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive. During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.”
Key Points at a Glance
- Politicians demand answers from the BBC.
- Starmer and Smith both urge accountability.
- Opposition calls for legal action.
- Kneecap controversy adds further scrutiny.
- BBC issues warning and pulls the Bob Vylan set from demand.
Live broadcasts from major festivals carry enormous reach and responsibility. The BBC’s decision to continue streaming the chant has stirred a fierce debate about whether editorial caution should have kicked in sooner. For now, the BBC says it issued an on-screen warning, but many believe that wasn’t enough.
