Nandy demands ‘accountability at highest levels' after Bob Vylan broadcast
Punk duo Bob Vylan led chants of 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)' during their Worthy Farm set last weekend, and face an investigation by Avon and Somerset Police.
London's Metropolitan Police is also investigating the two Bobs – who perform using the aliases Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan – for allegedly making similar comments at Alexandra Palace in May.
Conservative shadow culture secretary Stuart Andrew told the Commons: 'Given the BBC are seemingly able to pull live broadcasts when things go wrong at football matches, for example, it's extraordinary that this didn't happen on this occasion.
'Can the Secretary of State update the House on the discussions she's had with the BBC, and why the same thing didn't happen on this occasion?
Lisa Nandy said she expects more answers from the BBC 'to be forthcoming imminently' (PA)
'What due diligence was carried out by them about the acts that were performing?
'And given as she's said we're still waiting for a response to the previous Hamas documentary, is she satisfied with those conversations she's had and the urgency that the organisation are taking?'
Ms Nandy replied: 'No, the answer is that I'm not satisfied with the response that I've had.'
The Culture Secretary previously made a ministerial statement in the Commons on Monday, when she said 'it should have been foreseeable that there would be problems with broadcasts'.
She told MPs then that she wanted 'rapid action to make sure this cannot happen again'.
In Thursday's update, Ms Nandy told MPs: 'I have received a reply to the very many questions that were raised by colleagues on all sides.
'I'm not satisfied with that, and I have gone back to the BBC leadership to ask for further information, in particular, as he mentioned, about the failure to pull the live feed, about the due diligence that was done prior to deciding to screen this act, and also about the level of senior oversight that took place in the BBC during the Glastonbury weekend.
Just as artists can't hide behind artistic expression for vile commentary, neither can the BBC hide behind independence for accountability Stuart Andrew, shadow culture secretary
'I think the BBC leadership will hear and have heard the strength of feeling in this House about this, and I expect further answers to be forthcoming imminently.'
The corporation removed the documentary Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone from its online iPlayer platform in February after it emerged its 13-year-old narrator was the son of a Hamas official.
In a follow-up question, Mr Andrew said: 'I'm as disappointed as she is that they haven't been able to come back with even basic facts.
'There were hundreds of BBC staff there and not being able to identify who ultimately had the final decision on whether to broadcast or not is not acceptable, and I think the chairman (Samir Shah) needs to inform her as a matter of urgency who that was and what action they are going to take.
'While I absolutely understand the independence of the BBC, just as artists can't hide behind artistic expression for vile commentary, neither can the BBC hide behind independence for accountability, and I hope she knows she has the full support of this side of the House as she pushes them for clarity.'
Ms Nandy said she was 'grateful' that Mr Andrew had made 'the very important distinction between independence and accountability'.
She continued: 'Given the seriousness of what happened – and particularly we heard in the House and I was able to bring to the House the absolute shocking stories of the impact that this has had on the Jewish community in this country – given the seriousness of this, I would expect there to be accountability at the highest levels.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
22 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Ministers face backbench calls to widen access to top tier of sickness benefits
Labour backbencher Graeme Downie has proposed a welfare reform Bill amendment, so universal credit claimants with Parkinson's or multiple sclerosis who cannot work do not face repeated medical assessments to receive a payout. If MPs back his amendment, patients with 'evolving' needs who cannot work could also qualify for a higher rate of benefits. The Government's Bill has already cleared its first Commons hurdle at second reading, after work and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms vowed not to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), with any changes coming in only after a review of the benefit. To meet his promise, ministers have had to table amendments to their own draft new law, to remove one of its seven clauses, which MPs will debate next Wednesday. Universal credit claimants with Parkinson's 'are already possibly struggling financially', Mr Downie told the PA news agency ahead of the debate. He added: 'The cost of living with a condition like Parkinson's can be very high. 'You may well require or need additional support.' The Dunfermline and Dollar MP said patients who struggle with their motor control might buy pre-chopped vegetables or chicken. 'Those things are expensive, so if you're already on universal credit and you're struggling, being able to do that significantly impacts your health, it significantly impacts your ability to live properly,' he continued. As part of the Government's reforms, the Department for Work and Pensions has proposed a new 'severe conditions criteria' for universal credit. Claimants in this category will be entitled to a higher rate of the benefit, and will not be routinely reassessed to receive money. To qualify, claimants must have limited capability for work or work-related activity (LCWRA) and symptoms which 'constantly' apply. Mr Downie's amendment would expand these criteria to claimants with 'a fluctuating condition'. It would cover 'conditions like Parkinson's but also multiple sclerosis, ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), long Covid and a whole range of other conditions where, you know, in the morning things could be really good and in the afternoon things could be really bad, and even hour by hour things could change', he said. 'I felt it was necessary to table an amendment to really probe what the Government's position is on this, and ensuring that people with Parkinson's and conditions like that are not excluded from even applying and being considered.' Mr Downie's proposal has backing from 23 cross-party MPs. Juliet Tizzard, external relations director at Parkinson's UK, said: 'Criteria in the Bill say that a new claimant for the universal credit health payment will have to be 'constantly' unable to perform certain activities to qualify. 'This doesn't work for people with Parkinson's, whose symptoms change throughout the day. 'People with Parkinson's and other fluctuating conditions like multiple sclerosis will be effectively excluded from getting all the financial support they need. 'The Government has responded to our call and withdrawn the damaging restrictions to Pip. 'Now, they must do the same with the universal credit health element. The health of many people with Parkinson's is in their hands.'
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
DJ Hannah Laing organises, headlines and sells out debut Doof festival
DJ and producer Hannah Laing is fulfilling a dream of bringing her own festival to her home city this in the Park is her debut one-day event at Camperdown Park in Dundee on 15,000 tickets for the gig sold out within a week, before any other artists were announced, showing just how popular the 30-year-old has who began DJing as a teenager in local bars and clubs, said the event was the biggest project she had taken on to date."I've put a lot of pressure on myself and given myself a lot more work," she told BBC Scotland News."But it just matters to me so much. I've been heavily involved in every aspect of the organisation and I just want it to be a great experience for people." Hannah gained widespread attention after the Covid pandemic with her edit of the early 2000s pop track Murder on the Dancefloor, which went viral on social profile quickly grew, and in 2023, her track Good Love, a collaboration with vocalist RoRo, reached the UK top 10 and was certified then, she has performed at major festivals including Glastonbury, Creamfields, TRNSMT and Parklife, and began a residency at Ibiza's legendary HI club earlier this her success, it was only a few years ago she was still working full-time as a dental nurse, never imagining she'd one day be running a festival in her home city."I don't even think it has hit me yet," she said ahead of the gig."When I was working as a dental nurse, it was always just a hobby at weekends and, of course, I would have loved it to be my career. "Never did I think it would go this far, but I'm so happy it has, and no more teeth!" Doof in the Park will feature three stages, each reflecting Hannah's style and the spirit of her brand, Doof, named after the heavy beats of her musical main stage will be headlined by Dutch trance legend Armin van Buuren, alongside former Radio 1 DJ, Judge Jules."I'm totally inspired by that 90s sound, and that really reflects my DJ sets and my production," she said."That's why I wanted to put those artists on the main stage, because that's the sound I truly love."The second stage will feature newer artists such as Charlie Sparks and Ø is a style Hannah regularly plays, and she recently collaborated with Sparks on a track from her upcoming Into The Bounce talent is also front and centre, with the third stage spotlighting local names including Billy Morris and Paul Findlay."Stage three is The Highlander stage," Hannah said."I did my residency in The Highlander in Ibiza and I just wanted to pay my respects to that because that's where my journey began."I wanted to put the local Dundee DJs on that stage and give them that good experience I used to have at The Highlander."Hannah believes the range of music across the three stages will attract a broad crowd."I knew when I announced a festival for Dundee there would be so many older people who would come, as well as the younger ones," she said."So I really wanted to have something for everybody." Camperdown Park has hosted major music events before, including Radio 1's Big Weekend in 2023 and Carnival 56 in attracted large crowds and Hannah played at she returns as the organiser and headliner of her own sold out festival and she said it felt like a full circle moment."It's surreal," she said."I know it's such a good spot for a festival, and it's ten minutes from my house."For Hannah, holding the event in Dundee was never in question."There's a major gap here," she said. "We don't have anything like it."People who are into dance music here usually need to travel, so I wanted to bring something new and fresh to people's doorstep."Hannah says supporting the local economy has been central to her plans and has tried to keep everything as local as possible - from the traders to security also hopes the event will help impact local businesses such as hotels, restaurants and beauty salons."With everything that it brings, it's great for our wee city."Although Doof in the Park is a debut event, Hannah is already thinking long term."This is definitely something I'd like to do yearly," she says, "I'd love that.""It's so good for Dundee."
Sky News
27 minutes ago
- Sky News
What's it actually like in Iran right now?
👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈 In this episode, Richard and Yalda lift the curtain on what life is actually like in Iran, as Richard details how he managed to get into Tehran this week - and what he's found out about a country still reeling from the ramifications of the war against the US and Israel. After President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday night that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, we wait to see if Hamas accept the terms of the proposed agreement. Yalda and Richard ask what's next for the region, and whether Trump has in fact been successful in attempting to bring peace to the Middle East.
