British police have launched an investigation into controversial performances at Glastonbury Festival 2025, marking one of the most significant political controversies in the event’s history. The investigation centres on anti-Israel chants made during sets by punk duo Bob Vylan and Irish rap trio Kneecap, sparking widespread condemnation from government ministers and festival organisers.
Major Police Investigation Launched
Avon and Somerset Police announced on Saturday evening that they are reviewing video footage from performances on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival. In a statement posted on social media, officers confirmed they are “aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon”. The force added: “Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation”.
The police investigation focuses primarily on rapper Bobby Vylan, one half of London-based punk duo Bob Vylan, who led crowds in chants of “Death, death to the IDF” during their Saturday afternoon performance. The IDF reference relates to the Israeli Defence Forces, Israel’s military organisation. Vylan also encouraged the audience to chant “Free, free Palestine” whilst Palestinian flags were waved by thousands of festival-goers.
Government Ministers Condemn Festival Performances
Health Secretary Wes Streeting delivered a scathing condemnation of the performances during a Sunday morning television interview, describing the chants as “appalling”. Speaking to Sky News, Streeting said: “I thought it was appalling, to be honest, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens”.
The government’s response extended beyond verbal condemnation. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy contacted BBC Director General Tim Davie directly, demanding an urgent explanation about the broadcaster’s due diligence procedures. A government spokesperson confirmed: “The Culture Secretary has spoken to the BBC Director General to seek an urgent explanation about what due diligence it carried out ahead of the Bob Vylan performance”.
However, Streeting also criticised the Israeli embassy’s response, telling it to “get your own house in order”. He referenced recent violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, stating: “I wish they’d take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously”.
Conservative Opposition Response
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately condemned the incident as “disgusting”, expressing particular concern about the timing given the anniversary of the October 7th attacks. She told Sky News: “I was shocked to see some of the footage of that chanting of the crowd. And the music artist was ramping it up”.
Whately drew parallels between the Glastonbury performances and the Nova music festival massacre, stating: “Obviously it’s over a year and a half ago that innocent festival-goers at a festival in Israel were raped and murdered by Hamas – and then we have a music festival here in the UK where you have a chant saying death to the Israeli Armed Forces”.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch previously called for the BBC not to broadcast Kneecap’s performance ahead of the festival, describing it as “propaganda”. She argued that “as a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism”.
BBC Under Fire Over Live Coverage
The BBC faced intense scrutiny for broadcasting Bob Vylan’s performance live on iPlayer without editing or censorship. A BBC spokesperson later described some comments during the set as “deeply offensive”. The corporation confirmed it issued an on-screen warning about “very strong and discriminatory language” during the live stream.
Most significantly, the BBC announced it has “no plans to make the performance available on demand” on iPlayer. This decision effectively removes the controversial performance from the corporation’s catch-up service, preventing viewers from rewatching the content.
The broadcaster’s response highlighted the challenges of live broadcasting controversial content. Unlike Kneecap’s performance, which was not shown live, Bob Vylan’s set was broadcast in real-time across the BBC’s extensive festival coverage.
Glastonbury Festival Organisers Respond
Glastonbury Festival organisers issued a strongly-worded statement condemning Bob Vylan’s performance as “appalling”. The festival said the band’s chants “very much crossed a line” and confirmed they 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”.
The organisers stressed that with “almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share”. They emphasised that “a performer’s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs”.
Emily Eavis, one of the festival’s key organisers, had previously defended the decision to allow controversial acts to perform, stating that Glastonbury serves as a platform for “artists from across the globe” and that “everyone is welcome here”.
Israeli Embassy Condemns Festival Performances
The Israeli Embassy in the UK issued a statement expressing it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival”. The embassy argued that chants such as “Death to the IDF” and “From the river to the sea” are slogans that “advocate for the dismantling of the State of Israel”.
In a social media statement, the embassy said: “Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleansing, it must be called out—especially when amplified by public figures on prominent platforms”.
The embassy’s response highlighted concerns about the normalisation of what it termed “extremist language” before tens of thousands of festival-goers.
Bob Vylan: The Band Behind the Controversy
Bob Vylan, formed in Ipswich in 2017, consists of two members who maintain their privacy by using only stage names: Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan. The duo combines grime, punk rock, and hip-hop elements in their music, addressing themes of racism, social justice, and political issues.
The band has previously achieved commercial success, with their 2022 album “Bob Vylan Presents The Price Of Life” reaching number 18 in the UK Albums Chart. They won best alternative music act at the MOBO Awards in 2022 and best album at the Kerrang Awards the same year.
Their music frequently addresses social and political issues including racism, police violence, income inequality, and what they describe as “Britain’s political hypocrisy”. The band’s performances often include provocative elements designed to challenge audiences and draw attention to political causes.
Kneecap’s Controversial Appearance
Irish-language rap trio Kneecap also performed at Glastonbury despite significant political pressure to cancel their appearance. The band’s member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, is currently facing terrorism charges for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London concert in November 2024.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had previously stated it was “not appropriate” for Kneecap to perform at Glastonbury. However, the band proceeded with their set, during which Mo Chara said: “The Prime Minister of your country, not mine, said he didn’t want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer”.
During their performance, the band wore Palestine Action Group t-shirts, referencing an organisation that the UK government is in the process of banning under terrorism legislation. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, with the draft order due to be presented to Parliament on 30th June.
Palestine Action Group Context
The controversy gains additional significance given the UK government’s recent decision to ban Palestine Action Group under anti-terrorism laws. Palestine Action, founded in 2020, describes itself as a direct action movement targeting companies involved in arms production for Israel.
The organisation has conducted high-profile protests including spray-painting military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper justified the ban by citing “a long history of unacceptable criminal damage” and arguing that the group’s activities meet the threshold for terrorism legislation.
The decision to ban Palestine Action has proved controversial, with human rights organisations arguing it represents a disproportionate response to direct action protests. ARTICLE 19’s Executive Director Quinn McKew warned that “the use of terrorism powers to target Palestine Action sets a deeply worrying precedent for freedom of expression and the right to protest in the UK”.
Festival Attendance and Security Implications
Glastonbury Festival 2025 operated with a slightly reduced capacity compared to its maximum licensed attendance of 210,000 people. Festival organiser Emily Eavis confirmed they sold “a few thousand less tickets” this year to address overcrowding concerns from previous events.
The West Holts Stage, where both controversial performances took place, is the festival’s third-largest venue. The stage regularly accommodates large crowds, and Saturday’s performances drew thousands of attendees waving Palestinian flags.
The festival’s current licence permits up to 210,000 people on site, including attendees, staff, and performers. This makes it one of the world’s largest music festivals, creating significant challenges for managing controversial content across almost 4,000 scheduled performances on 120 stages.
Media Coverage and Public Response
The Board of Deputies of British Jews described Bob Vylan’s comments as “fairly horrific”. Vice President Andrew Gilbert called for better vetting procedures, stating: “There is a lot more to be done by the police, the BBC and by the government”.
Gilbert specifically criticised both the BBC and Glastonbury’s procedures for handling hate speech, asking: “Why wasn’t the performance stopped? Why wasn’t the stream stopped?”. However, he acknowledged the practical difficulties faced by those working on the ground during live events.
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The controversy generated significant social media discussion, with Creative Community for Peace posting footage of the performance and describing it as “vile antisemitism on full display”. The organisation argued that the incident represented “pure, unfiltered Jew-hatred cloaked in anti-Zionist rhetoric”.
Historical Context of Glastonbury Political Performances
Glastonbury Festival has a long history of political performances and statements, reflecting its origins in the counterculture movement of the 1970s. The festival regularly features artists with strong political views, and organisers have traditionally maintained that providing a platform does not constitute endorsement of particular viewpoints.
However, Saturday’s performances appear to have crossed new boundaries in terms of explicit calls for violence against specific military forces. The “Death to the IDF” chants represent a more direct form of incitement than typically seen at major UK music festivals.
The festival’s response suggests organisers recognise the severity of the situation, with their statement representing one of the strongest condemnations ever issued by Glastonbury management regarding artist behaviour.
Legal and Regulatory Implications
The police investigation into the Glastonbury performances raises important questions about freedom of expression versus incitement to violence. UK terrorism legislation provides authorities with broad powers to investigate speech that could constitute support for proscribed organisations or incitement to violence.
The investigation’s outcome could set important precedents for how controversial political speech is handled at major cultural events. Legal experts suggest the cases will likely focus on whether the chants crossed the legal threshold from protected political expression into criminal incitement.
The BBC’s decision not to make the performance available on demand reflects the broadcaster’s recognition of potential legal and regulatory risks. Ofcom, the UK’s broadcasting regulator, has not yet announced whether it will investigate the live broadcast of the controversial content.
International Dimensions
The controversy occurs against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Gaza and heightened tensions over Israel-Palestine issues in the UK. Recent weeks have seen increased scrutiny of pro-Palestine activism, culminating in the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action Group.
Health Secretary Streeting’s comments about Israeli settler violence demonstrate the complex political dynamics surrounding the issue. His criticism of both the Glastonbury performances and Israeli government actions reflects the Labour government’s attempt to balance support for Israel with criticism of specific policies.
The timing of the controversy, coming just days before the planned proscription of Palestine Action Group, has intensified political debate about the boundaries of acceptable protest.
Impact on Future Festival Programming
The Glastonbury controversy is likely to influence how major UK festivals approach political content in future programming. The Board of Deputies’ call for better artist vetting procedures suggests increased scrutiny of performers’ political statements and social media presence.
Festival organisers may implement more stringent guidelines about acceptable political expression, particularly regarding statements that could be interpreted as inciting violence. However, any such measures would need to balance free expression concerns with public safety considerations.
The BBC’s response, including its decision not to make controversial content available on demand, may influence how other broadcasters handle live coverage of potentially contentious performances.
Ongoing Police Investigation
Avon and Somerset Police continue their assessment of video evidence from Saturday’s performances. The investigation’s scope includes both Bob Vylan’s anti-IDF chants and statements made during Kneecap’s set.
Police have not specified a timeline for completing their investigation or indicated what charges, if any, might result. The complexity of determining whether political chants constitute criminal offences means the investigation could take several weeks or months to conclude.
The investigation’s outcome will be closely watched by both supporters and critics of the performers, as it could establish important legal precedents for similar cases in future.
UK police assess footage of Glastonbury acts over anti-Israel chants represents a watershed moment for Britain’s largest music festival, highlighting the complex intersection of political expression, public safety, and cultural programming in contemporary Britain. The controversy has generated unprecedented condemnation from government ministers, festival organisers, and broadcasting authorities, while raising fundamental questions about the boundaries of acceptable political speech at major cultural events.
The ongoing police investigation, combined with the government’s broader crackdown on pro-Palestine activism, suggests this controversy will have lasting implications for how political dissent is managed and regulated in the UK’s cultural sphere. As authorities continue their assessment of Saturday’s performances, the Glastonbury controversy stands as a defining moment in debates over free expression, antisemitism, and the limits of political protest in modern Britain.
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