Express readers have called for taxpayers to stop funding the Glastonbury festival through the BBC after chants by punk duo Bob Vylan calling for death to Israelis “crossed a line”. Footage from yesterday’s set is being assessed by the police. Vylan led crowds on the festival’s West Holts Stage in chants of “death, death to the IDF”, before a member of Irish rap trio Kneecap suggested fans “start a riot” at his bandmate’s forthcoming court appearance for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert in November.

When asked by an Express poll if they do not want their cash funding the Somerset festival, “Yes” had garnered 10,077 votes (92%), and “No” 843 votes (8%) between 9.45am and 2.45pm today. “Don’t know”, meanwhile, got 37 votes (0%). The BBC is the exclusive broadcast partner of Glastonbury. However, the event also has partnerships with companies such as the Co-op and Vodafone.

One reader commented: “Glastonbury is and was a Music Festival to be enjoyed by all, not, and never a platform for political activists. This must be the very last festival ever held as a token of the unacceptable nature of these representations. There must be a full enquiry by the police why this was allowed to include so many activists, and why some choices of acts were made?

“Why were Palestinian flags permitted to be flown, that clearly was an indication that this Festival was more about biggotry than enjoyment of the integration of races who had a common goal to co exist together. I’m disgusted that this country appears to have found its way into the sewer using religion!!”

Another wrote: “Is this the reason the pensioners had to forfeit their free TV licence so the BBC could contribute towards this crap?”

A different person wrote: “Yes, absolutely, but not for ‘censorship’ reasons, but tax payers shouldn’t be subsidising this junket.”

But a reader who appeared against the idea wrote: “Oh please! The BBC broadcast it when the Glastonbury crowd were chanting in favour of Jeremy Corbin some years ago!

“You cannot stifle debate by trying to shut down a controversial opinion that you may not agree with – surely that smacks of fascism? I don’t agree with a lot of the pap that the BBC puts out, and although they always deny it, the political presenters can have a very, very, sneering attitude, when they are supposed to be impartial.

“However – we need to hear differing opinions so that we can make our own judgements.”

The Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, said this morning that Vylan’s chant was “appalling”, and that the BBC and the festival have “questions to answer”.

He told Sky News: “I thought it’s appalling, to be honest, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens.”

Mr Streeting added: “The fact that we saw that chant at a music festival, when there were Israelis at a similar music festival who were kidnapped, murdered, raped, and in some cases still held captive, whether it’s a Palestinian or an Israeli, whether it’s a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim, all life is precious.

“All life is sacred. And I find it pretty revolting we’ve got to a state in this conflict where you’re supposed to sort of cheer on one side or the other like it’s a football team.”

He also said Israel has to “get its own house in order” over the conduct of settlers in the region.

A joint Instagram post from Glastonbury and Emily Eavis, its organiser, said: “As a festival, we stand against all forms of war and terrorism. We will always believe in – and actively campaign for – hope, unity, peace and love.

“With almost 4,000 performances at Glastonbury 2025, there will inevitably be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and a performer’s presence here should never be seen as a tacit endorsement of their opinions and beliefs.

“However, we are appalled by the statements made from the West Holts stage by Bob Vylan yesterday. Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the Festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”