Suella Braverman calls for BBC boss to go after Glastonbury scandal | Politics | News


Suella Braverman, the former Home Secretary, accused the BBC of โ€œshamefullyโ€ failing to deal with antisemitism as she renewed her call for BBC boss Tim Davie to stand down. This follows outrage at the broadcast of โ€œdeath to the IDFโ€ chants led by rapper Bobby Vylan at the Glastonbury Festival.

Mrs Braverman accused the BBC of failing to deal with antisemitism and said Mr Davie โ€œneeds to goโ€. Her comments come as it is confirmed the Bob Vylan punk rap duo at the centre of the controversy will no longer headline the Saturday slot at Manchesterโ€™s Radar festival. Police have launched an investigation into the events at Glastonbury which featured singer Bobby Vylan leading the crowd in chants of โ€œdeath, death to the IDFโ€.

The set was live-streamed by the BBC. The broadcaster has apologised but there are calls for director-general Mr Davie โ€“ who visited the festival on Saturday โ€“ to step down.

Mrs Braverman said: โ€œThe BBC has shamefully failed to deal with antisemitism. Too many incidents, too many half-hearted apologies. There is a cultural and institutional problem at the BBC. The director-general has lost the confidence of the taxpayer and needs to go.โ€

Alan Mendoza, co-founder of the Henry Jackson Society think tank, said: โ€œThe problem for Tim Davie is the cumulative loss of public confidence in the BBC during his watch. It is death by a thousand cuts rather than one big bang event, but the effect is the same.

โ€œWithout a change of leadership and a willingness to accept fundamental change in how it behaves, it is difficult to see how the BBC can save itself from its inevitable defenestration as a national institution funded by the taxpayer.โ€

The BBC has defended Mr Davieโ€™s actions, saying: โ€œThe director-general was informed of the incident after the performance and at that point he was clear it should not feature in any other Glastonbury coverage.โ€

Bob Vylan responded to the announcement they will not headline the Manchester festival by stating: โ€œSilence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester we will be back.โ€

The group has also been banned from entering the United States for a tour. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau revoked the duoโ€™s visas for their โ€œhateful tirade at Glastonburyโ€.

Bobby Vylan is reportedly the stage name of Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34. His bandmate drummer uses the alias Bobbie Vylan.

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