Sir Keir Starmer has criticized the Wireless Festival for booking Kanye West to headline in North London this July. He described the decision as “deeply concerning” due to West’s past antisemitic remarks and Nazi-themed acts.
The Prime Minister told “Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is safe for Jewish people.” Starmer’s remarks come as West is scheduled to perform all three nights for 150,000 attendees at Finsbury Park.
Jewish leaders also condemned the booking. Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, called it “absolutely the wrong decision” and urged the Government to block West from entering the UK. Similarly, Holocaust Educational Trust chief Karen Pollock said West’s song Heil Hitler and previous support for Hitler are causing distress in Britain’s Jewish community.
The controversy comes amid recent antisemitic attacks across the UK. These include a synagogue killing in Manchester and an arson attack on four Jewish ambulances in north London last month.
Kanye West, 48, has publicly called himself a Nazi and previously threatened Jewish people online. Once celebrated for 160 million record sales and 24 Grammy Awards, he has faced global backlash for releasing pro-Hitler songs and merchandise. This included swastika T-shirts and a Ku Klux Klan outfit.
Despite apologizing in a full-page Wall Street Journal advert and citing bipolar disorder, many Jewish organizations remain unconvinced. The Jewish Leadership Council called the festival booking “deeply irresponsible.” They stressed that his apology came after repeated antisemitic acts.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood can block foreign nationals if their presence is “not conducive to the public good.” Calls to ban West from the UK have grown stronger. Meanwhile, Mayor Sadiq Khan and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey also criticized the booking.
Festival organizers defended their decision. They said West’s return would be an “extraordinary chapter in Wireless’s story.” Critics argue the booking risks normalizing antisemitism at one of the UK’s largest music events.
Tickets go on sale at £140 for a single day and £360 for a three-day pass. The debate over West’s UK performances continues to intensify.
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