York MP wants Kanye West banned from coming to UK
Controversial rapper is headliner at Wireless Festival in London
York Central's MP has waded into the row about Kanye West's planned headlining of the Wireless Festival in London.
Rachael Maskell wants the controversial rapper banned from coming to the UK - it's after he voiced admiration for Hitler, made antisemitic remarks, sold merchandise with swastikas and released a song called "Heil Hitler".
Speaking on Radio 4's Today programmes she said: "We cannot allow these performers to have a platform, and that’s why it’s absolutely right that the Prime Minister has said that that festival, the Wireless festival, should cancel that performer.
“But also he should not be allowed to come to our country to perform in the light of the antisemitic comments that he has made and recorded.”
"I think it is clear, whether it’s in our cultural life or across society, that we should have zero tolerance for any form of antisemitism and therefore it is absolutely right that the Home Secretary takes the right considerations should an application be lodged.”
Melvin Benn, director of promoter Festival Republic, dismissed the calls for a ban - describing himself as a “deeply committed anti-fascist” and “person of forgiveness”.
In a statement he's said: “What Ye has said in the past about Jews and Hitler is as abhorrent to me as it is to the Jewish community, the Prime Minister and others that have commented and – taking him at his word – to Ye now also.
“Ye’s music is played on commercial radio stations in this country. It is available via live streams and downloads in this country without comment or vitriol from anyone and he has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country.
“He is intended to come in and perform. We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions.
“Forgiveness and giving people a second chance are becoming a lost virtue in this ever-increasing divisive world and I would ask people to reflect on their instant comments of disgust at the likelihood of him performing (as was mine) and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do.”
West himself took out a full-page newspaper advert in January to apologise, it was headed: "To Those I’ve Hurt.”
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it continued, "“I love Jewish people.”
He blamed his bipolar disorder which he claims led him to fall into “a four-month-long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life”.