The Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel has blasted the “BBC and Glastonbury” over Bob Vlyan’s “deeply offensive” comments during the festival performance.
Patel said the BBC’s decision to allow the disgusting performance to be broadcast live TV with a simple on-screen warning as “absolutely horrific.”
There is wide spread disgust over Vylan’s comment where he said “death to the IDF” (Israeli Defence Force.”
Speaking to GB News Patel said, “I think the BBC need to have a good, hard look at themselves right now. Their record over Israel and the conflicts over recent years, since October 7, has been utterly appalling.
“They’ve had record numbers of complaints about their own reporting, they’ve failed in the past to effectively call Hamas a terrorist organisation, I was responsible for proscribing them, and what we have seen today is absolutely unacceptable for what is still considered to be our national broadcaster.”
She said that the BBC is “taxpayer funded,” adding, “Let’s not forget, we are all paying for the BBC, it’s a taxpayer-funded institution.
“I grew up watching the BBC when they used to have concerts such as Live Aid on and they used to make us feel incredibly proud, when there was the people coming together to do good things in the world.
“And now you see the BBC and Glastonbury promoting and inciting violence against Jewish people and effectively speaking the language of terror and hate. That is just not right.”
The Shadow Foreign Secretary wants the BBC to be “held accountable,” adding, “It’s unacceptable, and some big names need to be called to account, and I would actually go as far to say some heads need to roll at the BBC.
“What on earth is going on with the BBC? This is just simply not acceptable at all.”
She said the BBC “would have had advanced sight of the performers that turn up at this so-called festival, performing the way in which they do.
“Surely these people at the BBC would have checked out potential playlists, all this kind of stuff. There are serious questions to be asked of the BBC.”
a BBC spokesman said, “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.”
Glastonbury said in a statement, “Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”