BBC Faces License Fee Calls After Glastonbury Controversy

The BBC is under renewed pressure to abolish the license fee following a controversy surrounding its coverage of the Glastonbury Festival. The rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led by frontman Bobby Vylan, caused a stir when they led the crowd at the West Holts Stage in chants of "death, death to the IDF" on Saturday.

The national broadcaster responded on Monday, expressing regret for not removing the live stream of the performance. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, condemned the chants as "appalling hate speech." Several Members of Parliament, including Tory Matt Vickers and independent Rupert Lowe, have called for the license fee to be eliminated in response to the incident.

The broadcasting regulator Ofcom also expressed its concern regarding the live stream. The BBC issued a statement acknowledging the offensive comments made during the performance. The statement emphasized the BBC's respect for freedom of expression while firmly opposing incitement to violence. The broadcaster deemed the antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan as unacceptable and stated that the performance would not be available on demand.

Avon and Somerset Police announced that they are reviewing videos of Bob Vylan's comments at Glastonbury to determine if any offenses were committed. The Glastonbury Festival organizers also condemned the chants, stating they were "appalled by the statements" made on stage. In a statement on Instagram, the rapper stated the importance of encouraging future generations to advocate for change.