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Spectator
11 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
And now let's bomb Glastonbury
A small yield nuclear weapon, such as the American W89, dropped on Glastonbury in late June would immediately remove from our country almost everybody who is hugely annoying. You would see a marked reduction in the keffiyeh klan, for a start, and all those middle-class Extinction Rebellion protestors would find, in a nanosecond, that their rebellion was pointless, because extinction had arrived even more summarily than they expected. Go on, glue yourselves to that, Poppy and Oliver. Street drummers, liberal politicians, provo vegans, radical rappers, spiritual healers, Billy Bragg, that bloke who owns Forest Green Rovers, druggies, tattooed blue-haired hags, almost the entirety of middle-class London – all evaporated. I am not saying that we should do this, of course – it would be a horrible, psychopathic thing to do. I am merely hypothesising, in a slightly wistful kinda way. One on Glasto, one on Brighton, and the UK would soon begin its recovery, with only a few chunks of gently glowing cobalt 60 left to remind us of what we are missing. One on Glasto, one on Brighton, and the UK would soon begin its recovery The BBC would cease to exist, too. It identifies Glastonbury as an expression of the UK 'coming together', which shows you how much it understands about the country. It has poured millions of pounds of licence-payers' money into its coverage, and 400 staff were there last weekend, including the director-general, Tim Davie. Or at least 400 staff were actually working there – I'll bet another 400 or so were there in their little tents, desperate to surf the vibe or whatever the phrase is. All those people, then, and they still couldn't get it right. Nor should we take seriously their claims that pulling the ridiculous Bob Vylan from air would not be anywhere near as simple as flicking a switch. It is every bit as simple as flicking a switch, in that all they had to do was flick a switch. They had rafts of presenters who could have filled the time, plus cameras at every other stage in the festival site. All it needed was someone with the merest vestige of sentience to make the decision – but, then, this is the BBC we are talking about. Whoever was in charge of output at that moment – almost certainly someone called 'Johnny' or 'Ayesha' – probably just thought the stuff about the IDF was 'top bants'. In truth, I am not much worked up about the Bob Vylan (or Kneecap) stuff, per se. They were only doing what an endless list of hip young musicians have done at every summer festival going all the way back to Country Joe McDonald and 'one-two-three-four what are we fighting for?' – i.e., channelling infantile far-left agitprop devoid of nuance and context to an audience of gullible drongos. The difference is that the BBC decided to cover it, thinking – as it unquestionably does – that the majority of the country would be cheerfully humming along with Bob Vylan's tuneful music and are entirely down with the sentiments expressed. That is the BBC's real crime. It is worth a brief digression here on the nature of protest songs, of rock musicians playing politics and whether they have an effect or not. The BBC would argue that they do have an effect, that they tap into a perhaps previously unexpressed sentiment among the wider public and hence herald great change. Au contraire. In the mid- to late-1960s, the more protest songs and festival chants there were, the further to the right swung the rest of the electorate. As evidence, I would point you in the direction of Richard Nixon's comprehensive victory in 1968 and then, after Country Joe had done his stuff at Woodstock, a landslide in 1972. They all seriously believed McGovern was going to win that one, so wrapped up inside their radical bubble were they all (including the broadcasters). All those youthful protests of the 1960s resulted in surprise victories for the right at the polls a few years later – in the UK with Ted Heath in 1970, in France with an unexpected win for Pompidou in 1969, and of course the USA. The more fervently they insist that they are right, the more likely it is that the rest of the country will tell them to get stuffed. I suppose it is possible that Bob Vylan will do for Tim Davie, the DG – although he is the least of the corporation's problems, frankly. He knows he has a workforce which, in its arrogance, subscribes to a set of political beliefs unshared by the people who pay for its existence. And it is so endemic that there is nothing he can do about it. One little thing I noticed: the BBC News dutifully covered the Bob Vylan debacle and did so even handedly. But on every single occasion, on radio and TV, the story was immediately followed by a report of Israeli 'atrocities' in Gaza. Every single time. Do you think that is an accident? There was a programme on BBC Radio 4 on Monday, as part of the 'Currently' series, about Louise Lancaster, an environmental protestor who was finally (on her fifth conviction) handed down a four-year sentence (later reduced to three years) for organising a protest which seriously inconvenienced hundreds of thousands of people. You would be hard-pressed to find a more egregiously biased example of broadcasting. Lancaster – a middle-class teacher from Grantchester – was portrayed as a kind of saint, suffering state persecution for her entirely valid beliefs. The Sun and Daily Mail were mentioned disparagingly and every action taken by Lancaster lauded. The BBC decided first to commission this rubbish and then put it out. Can you imagine it doing a similar piece about Lucy Connolly? Not a chance. That is the real problem with the BBC. It is utterly incapable of recognising the bias it displays every day on an hourly basis, no matter how often that bias is pointed out. Bob Vylan, frankly, is the least of it.
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kanye West's visa revoked by Australia over controversial 'Heil Hitler' song
Kanye West, also known as Ye , is once again in hot water, this time with Australian authorities. Following the release of his highly controversial single "Heil Hitler," the government has officially revoked his visa, a government minister announced on Wednesday. What did the Australian government say about the song? Even though Ye later released a more subdued version of the song "Hallelujah," the damage had already occurred. Australia's Home Affairs Minister stated that the country will not "import bigotry." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dukung Orang Terkasih Menghadapi Limfoma: Mulai Di Sini Limfoma Klik Di Sini Undo Tony Burke, the minister of home affairs, disclosed that Ye has been visiting Australia for years. Bianca Censori, his wife was born there. Her family resides in Melbourne. The song "Heil Hitler' was widely condemned as an antisemitic homage to Adolf Hitler. Officials claim the track promotes Nazism and violates immigration laws. Live Events After he released the song "Heil Hitler," he made a number of offensive remarks that my officials reexamined, and he no longer has a valid visa to enter Australia," Burke told Australian Broadcasting Corp. The Migration Act of Australia establishes security and character standards for foreign nationals seeking to enter the nation. Antisemitic attacks have increased in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia's largest cities, since the Israeli-Hamas war started on October 7, 2023. Has Ye faced backlash like this before? Australia has previously thought about obstructing Ye. In 2023, Jason Clare, Australia's education minister, denounced West's "awful" remarks about Hitler and the Holocaust and suggested that he be refused entry. ALSO READ: Will Diddy's legal troubles cost him his career and millions? Experts break down the potential consequences if he had been convicted What's in the 'Heil Hitler' music video? Among the other songs with contentious lyrics on the Grammy-winning artist's new album, WW3, is this one. Heil Hitler's music video, which was released on May 8, features a group of men chanting the song's title while dressed in animal hides. Streaming services like YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify have banned it, as per a report by The BBC. However, soon after its publication, West declared that he was "done with anti-Semitism" and unveiled Hallelujah, a new Heil Hitler. The new song's lyrics about Christianity took the place of previous allusions to Nazism. West's anti-Semitic comments have caused controversy in recent years. He proclaimed himself a Nazi earlier this year and withdrew his apology for previous remarks. Adidas, the massive sportswear company, declared in 2022 that it was terminating its collaboration with West due to his anti-Semitism. The business announced late last year that it had reached a settlement with him to put an end to all of their legal issues, as per a report by The BBC. FAQs Why was Ye's visa cancelled in Australia? As his song "Heil Hitler" was deemed to promote Nazism and antisemitism, it violated character standards outlined in Australia's Migration Act. Did Ye try to walk back the controversy? Yes, he later released a new version of the song, titled "Hallelujah," which removed Nazi references and focused on Christianity.
Wales Online
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Committee asks BBC boss for view on ‘what went wrong' with Glastonbury coverage
Committee asks BBC boss for view on 'what went wrong' with Glastonbury coverage The BBC has faced strong criticism for continuing to livestream the performance of punk rap duo Bob Vylan, which is now the subject of a criminal police investigation Tim Davie was at Glastonbury Festival when pro-Palestine chants were broadcast by the BBC (Image: PA Wire/PA Images ) A Government committee has written to BBC director-general Tim Davie asking him for a "personal assessment of what went wrong" with the broadcaster's Glastonbury coverage. The BBC has faced strong criticism for continuing to livestream the performance of punk rap duo Bob Vylan, which is now the subject of a criminal police investigation, at the festival on iPlayer. They led chants of "Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)" during their set on the West Holts Stage on Saturday, with the broadcaster providing on-screen warnings about discriminatory language on its platform. It later apologised on Monday and said the chants held "antisemitic sentiments" that were "unacceptable". Irish rap trio Kneecap, who are also facing an Avon and Somerset Police investigation, appeared on the same stage directly after Bob Vylan and led the Glastonbury audience in "Free Palestine" chants. It has since been revealed that Tim Davie was at Glastonbury when the pro-Palestine chants were broadcast. Article continues below In a letter sent to Mr Davie by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Tuesday, chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage asked the BBC boss 12 questions after saying its coverage had caused "widespread concern". Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy previously said that "several" editorial failures "becomes a problem of leadership" during a statement on the BBC's coverage to the Commons. Among the questions, Dame Caroline said: "Before the festival started, did the BBC consider streaming all or part of its Glastonbury coverage with a short time delay, to allow room to respond to events if necessary?" The Conservative MP went on to ask how many BBC staff and contractors were working at Glastonbury or on its coverage, if staff with the authority to cut Bob Vylan's live stream were present during their performance and whether ending the live stream was discussed mid-performance. Dame Caroline then asked: "At what level were the decisions made to not stream Kneecap live and to stream Bob Vylan live, but with a warning on screen?" The letter asked if the BBC had a contingency plan for the event and who was responsible for forming and actioning the plan, before asking if the broadcaster would review its Editorial Guidelines and guidance for live output "to ensure they are fit for live streaming". The Tory MP added: "In summary, what is your personal assessment of what went wrong and what (are the) key lessons that the BBC will take away from the experience of live streaming Glastonbury 2025?" Dame Caroline said she hoped for Mr Davie's response to the questions within two weeks. Avon and Somerset Police said it had launched a probe into both the Bob Vylan and Kneecap performances after reviewing video footage and audio recordings, with a senior detective appointed to lead the investigation. A force spokesman said: "This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage. "The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes." In response to criticism of their performance on Tuesday, Bob Vylan said in a statement posted on Instagram that they were being "targeted for speaking up" and that "a good many people would have you believe a punk band is the number one threat to world peace." Article continues below The statement said: "We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. "We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use 'unnecessary lethal force' against innocent civilians waiting for aid. "A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza."
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Camilla laments library closures in visit to Edinburgh community hub
Camilla told a group of librarians, figures from the city's annual literary festival and leading writers that she 'wished' more people would open such facilities as she officially launched Ratho Library in Newbridge. Her words were echoed by celebrated Scottish crime writer Sir Ian Rankin, who praised the resources his local centre provided when he was growing up, saying: 'Without libraries I wouldn't be here.' The Queen officially opened Ratho Library in Newbridge, Edinburgh (Lesley Martin/PA) The Queen, who has a passion for reading and officially supports a number of literary organisations, also chatted to Paula Hawkins, The Girl On The Train author, and told her: 'I'm very partial to crime novels.' In an impromptu speech, she said her visit 'has just reinforced my belief in what wonderful places libraries are, literally from toddlers to pensioners – they manage to inspire a love of reading of books'. She added: 'To actually see a new library like this… I wish a lot of other people would follow your example and open more libraries all over the country, because I think, sadly, a lot of them have been closing down. The facility is a partnership with Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh City Libraries (Lesley Martin/PA) 'So to see something as wonderful as this being reopened is all to the credit to all of you who've made it happen.' The BBC reported in September that more than 180 council-run libraries have either closed or been handed over to volunteer groups in the UK since 2016 after the corporation submitted freedom of information requests. In contrast, City of Edinburgh Council has made a commitment to its 28 public libraries to continue developing the resources as thriving community spaces. Sir Ian, famed for his series of Inspector Rebus books, is also Deputy Lieutenant of Edinburgh, and said following the royal visit: 'Libraries are an easy cut and I can understand why councils do it – it's an invisible cut, almost. Camilla's visit also marked the launch of a five-year initiative by the Edinburgh International Book Festival in partnership with Edinburgh City Libraries (Lesley Martin/PA) 'But it's such a crucial thing – libraries are crucial for every generation, from the very beginning to the very end.'Sir Ian added that to 'be a reader is to be a citizen of the world as fully as you can be'. Camilla's visit also marked the launch of a five-year initiative by the Edinburgh International Book Festival in partnership with Edinburgh City Libraries. Called Paper Trails, the project supported by Sir Ian will operate in five local libraries, including Ratho Library, to promote literature in local communities, including using the mobile library service to bring authors and artists into care homes. The director of the Edinburgh Book Festival Jenny Niven was also part of the event, alongside Sir Ian Rankin (Lesley Martin/PA) The community of Ratho was served by a mobile library while the permanent facility was rebuilt, opening in the spring, and Camilla toured a similar mobile unit and joked with Sir Ian when she spotted some of his novels on the shelves. She quipped 'I'm sure they go down very well with the readers,' before donating a collection of books. During her visit, the Queen also sat down with a group of children from a nursery which shares its premises with the library and also met a group of budding authors and poets from the Citizen Collective Young People's Writers Programme. She told them: 'I can see I've met you at very early stages in your career – good luck.'
Wales Online
a day ago
- Politics
- Wales Online
How every Welsh MP voted on controversial welfare change plans
How every Welsh MP voted on controversial welfare change plans Another late, and major concession, from the UK Government was needed to avoid an embarrassing defeat MPs have voted in favour of watered-down plans to reform welfare payments. The UK Government had to go further with its concessions from last week to avoid a humiliating defeat for its plans. A number of MPs, including five Labour MPs from Wales, had said they would vote for what's called a reasoned amendment, which, if it had passed, would have sunk the government bill. Plaid Cymru's four MPs also said they would back the amendment. That led the government to change the substance of its bill with all but one of the Welsh Labour rebels, Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP Steve Witherden, keeping his name on the rebel amendment. During the debate and before any vote the government offered a further concession to rebelling Labour MPs over its plans with disability minister Sir Stephen Timms saying changes to PIP would not take place until after a review of the benefit has concluded. The BBC's political editor, Chris Mason, has said the government was told hours before the ballot that numbers showed that even with the first major concession "defeat was very realistic". The combination of concessions meant enough MPs backed the bill and the proposal has passed the first stage of parliamentary scrutiny and it will go on to further scrutiny called the second reading.. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Mr Witherden was the only Welsh Labour MP to vote against the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill. All four Plaid Cymru MPs and the sole Liberal Democrat also refused to give it their backing. Article continues below On Monday 86 disability and human rights groups put out a joint statement urging MPs to vote down the bill despite the protections for existing claimants including Scope, Mind, the Trussell Trust, Sense, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Oxfam. During the debate work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall told the Commons: "Welfare reform, let's be honest, is never easy, perhaps especially for Labour governments. Our social security system directly touches the lives of millions of people and it is something we all care deeply about. "We have listened to the concerns that have been raised to help us get these changes right. The Bill protects people already claiming PIP, it protects in real terms the incomes of people already receiving the UC (universal credit) health top-up from that benefit and their standard allowance, and it protects those with severe lifelong conditions who will never work, and those near the end of their life as we promised we would." Wales has 32 MPs with 27 representing Labour, four for Plaid Cymru and one Lib Dem. How all Welsh MPs voted on the welfare reform: Aberafan Maesteg Stephen Kinnock - Labour (Image: Labour Party ) For Alyn and Deeside Mark Tami - Labour (Image: Mark Tami, Alyn and Deeside Labour candidate ) For Bangor Aberconwy Claire Hughes - Labour Claire Hughes (Image: Mike Plunkett ) For Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney Nick Smith - Labour Nick Smith (Image: Labour Party ) For Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick - Liberal Democrat (Image: Welsh Liberal Democrats ) Against Bridgend Chris Elmore - Labour Chris Elmore (Image: Nathan Roach ) For Caerphilly Chris Evans - Labour Chris Evans (Image: Labour Party ) For Cardiff East Jo Stevens - Labour Jo Stevens (Image: Labour Party ) For Cardiff North Anna McMorrin - Labour Anna McMorrin (Image: Labour Party ) For Cardiff South and Penarth Stephen Doughty - Labour Stephen Doughty (Image: Labour Party ) For Cardiff West Alex Barros-Curtis - Labour Alex Barros-Curtis, Labour candidate for Cardiff West (Image: Labour Party ) For Caerfyrddin Ann Davies - Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru candidate for Caerfyrddin, Ann Davies (Image: PA ) Against Ceredigion Preseli Ben Lake - Plaid Cymru Ben Lake, Plaid Cymru candidate for Ceredigion Preseli (Image: Plaid Cymru ) Against Clwyd East Becky Gittins - Labour Becky Gittins, Labour candidate for Clwyd East (Image: Mike Plunkett ) For Clwyd North Gill German - Labour Gill German, Labour candidate for Clwyd North (Image: Mike Plunkett ) For Dwyfor Meirionnydd Liz Savile Roberts - Plaid Cymru Plaid MP Liz Savile Roberts (Image: JoeBlomfield 2022 / Plaid Cymru ) Against Gower Tonia Antoniazzi - Labour Tonia Antoniazzi MP for Gower (Image: Tonia Antoniazzi ) For Llanelli Nia Griffith - Labour Nia Griffith (Image: Labour Party ) For Merthyr Tydfil and Gerald Jones - Labour Gerald Jones (Image: Labour Party ) For Monmouthshire Catherine Fookes - Labour Catherine Fookes, Labour candidate for Monmouthshire (Image: Nathan Roach ) For Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr Steve Witherden - Labour Steve Witherden, Labour candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr (Image: Nathan Roach ) Against Neath and East Carolyn Harris - Labour Carolyn Harris, Labour candidate for Neath and Swansea East (Image: Labour Party ) For Newport East Jessica Morden - Labour Jessica Morden (Image: Labour Party ) For Newport West and Islwyn Ruth Jones - Labour Ruth Jones (Image: Labour Party ) For Pembrokeshire Mid and South Henry Tufnell - Labour (Image: Nathan Roach ) For Pontypridd Alex Davies-Jones - Labour Alex Davies-Jones (Image: Labour Party ) For Rhondda and Ogmore Chris Bryant - Labour Chris Bryant (Image: Labour Party ) For Swansea West Torsten Bell - Labour Torsten Bell (Image: Labour Party ) For Torfaen Nick Thomas-Symonds: Labour Nick Thomas-Symonds (Image: Labour Party ) For Vale of Glamorgan Kanishka Narayan - Labour (Image: Labour Party ) For Wrexham Andrew Ranger - Labour Andrew Ranger (Image: Mike Plunkett ) For Ynys Mon Llinos Medi - Plaid Cymru Llinos Medi (Image: Plaid Cymru ) Against Use this tool to check how any MP in Westminster voted: Article continues below
