Following antisemitic chants at the Glastonbury Festival, which were condemned by Jewish leaders, concerns about rising antisemitism in the UK have been amplified. These concerns predate the recent festival incident and trace back to the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Prior to the performance by Bob Vylan, where the singer chanted “Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces],” some Jews in the UK reported feeling unwelcome due to the government’s perceived inaction on antisemitism.
David Collier, an investigative journalist focused on “antisemitism inside anti-Zionist activity,” stated that Vylan’s actions reflect a misunderstanding, believing he was advocating for humanity while calling for harm to young Israelis. Collier criticized the crowd’s participation, the lack of intervention by the crew, and the BBC’s continued live coverage.
Collier added that the incident highlighted a widespread acceptance of antisemitic ideology in the UK.
According to the Community Security Trust, which tracks antisemitic incidents in Great Britain, attacks against Jews have increased, with 3,528 incidents reported in 2024 and 4,296 in 2023.
A CAM survey from January 2025 indicated that only 34% of British Jews believe they have a long-term future in the UK, and nearly half have considered leaving in the past two years because of antisemitism.
The survey also revealed that fewer than half of British Jews (43%) feel welcome in the UK, with many concealing their Jewish identity due to antisemitism. Less than 10% believe authorities are adequately addressing antisemitism.
Furthermore, 92% believe media bias against Israel contributes to the persecution of Jews in Britain, with the BBC being singled out for its coverage.
CAM CEO Sacha Roytman commented that the open broadcasting of antisemitism on the BBC with minimal condemnation demonstrates the severity of the situation in the UK.
Roytman urged the British government and the BBC to take action against such artists, preventing them from using their platforms to promote hate and violence.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Vylan’s performance, denouncing “appalling hate speech” and calling on the BBC to explain the broadcast, according to reports.
Former BBC director Danny Cohen argued in the Daily Telegraph that the BBC is violating its own hate speech guidelines and urged government intervention.
Cohen cited instances of “Jew-hate and bias from reporters on BBC Arabic” and a controversial documentary about Gaza as evidence of the BBC’s ongoing issues with antisemitism.
The Board of Deputies, the main representative body for British Jews, stated it would seek answers from the BBC regarding the broadcast and work to prevent future occurrences.
The Board of Deputies also criticized Glastonbury Festival, stating that its commitment to peace and respect appeared insincere considering the chants promoted on stage.
U.K.-based journalist Nicole Lampert described the incident at Glastonbury as a symptom of a broader problem in British society and attributed it to the BBC’s reporting.
Lampert stated that the BBC’s coverage of Middle Eastern conflicts lacks nuance.
She added that while the BBC and its journalists are expected to be neutral, social media reveals otherwise, with many Jews expressing a desire to leave the country.
Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli urged British Jews to “leave the country” in a post on X.
He accused the BBC of normalizing incitement and held accountable those who fail to stop it, for the potential harm to Jews and Israelis in Britain.
The BBC stated it should have stopped the livestream and acknowledged that Vylan’s performance contained “utterly unacceptable” and “antisemitic sentiments.”
The BBC said that while millions enjoyed Glastonbury across its platforms, one performance contained deeply offensive comments.
The British government has not yet responded to requests for comment.