Wes Streeting Slams BBC And Glastonbury Over 'Appalling' Bob Vylan 'Death To The IDF' Chant
Wes Streeting has said the BBC and Glastonbury 'have questions to answer' after punk duo Bob Vylan led the crowd at the festival in chants of 'death to the IDF (Israel Defence Force)'.
The health secretary said the chants were 'appalling' and said the corporation must explain how they were streamed live on iPlayer.
Avon and Somerset Police have launched an investigation into the performances of Bob Vylan, and Irish rappers Kneecap, to see 'whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation'.
Asked for his views on Sky News this morning, Streeting said: 'I thought it was appalling to be honest and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer on how we saw such a spectacle on our screens.
'I also think it was a pretty shameless publicity stunt that I don't want to give too much indulgence to for that reason.
'What we should be talking about this week in the context of Israel and Gaza is the fact that Israeli settler terrorists attacks a Christian village this week, setting it on fire. The fact that I met the Red Cross and Red Crescent this week talking about humanitarian catastrophe today, but the risk of the spread of disease in the summer and famine in the autumn.
'And indeed the fact that we saw that chant at a music festival, when there were Israelis at a similar music festival who were kidnapped, murdered, raped, and in some cases still held captive.
'So I just say that whether it's a Palestinian or an Israeli, whether it's a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim, all life is precious, all life is sacred, and I find it pretty revolting we've got to a stage in this conflict where you're supposed to cheer on one side or the other like it's a football team.'
A spokesperson for the BBC 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.'
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