MPs and a leading campaign group are demanding the Home Office ban Kanye West from entering the United Kingdom to headline a major London music festival this summer, arguing that his history of antisemitic and pro-Nazi statements makes his presence “not conducive to the public good.”
The calls, from figures across the political spectrum and the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA), come as the controversy over the rapper’s booking forces a growing list of corporate sponsors to abandon the Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park.
The Legal Power to Ban
Central to the demands is a power held by the Home Office. The government can refuse entry to any non-British citizen if it is believed their presence in the UK is “not conducive to the public good.” The CAA has explicitly stated it believes there is a “clear case” for using this power against Kanye West, also known as Ye.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that West should be barred, stating: “We cannot allow these performers to have a platform… 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.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has also urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to act, describing West as “guilty of appalling antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments.” He emphasised that the musician’s comments were “not a one-off lapse, but a pattern of behaviour that has caused real offence and distress to Jewish communities.” It is understood that ministers are now reviewing West’s permission to enter the UK.
Sponsors Abandon the Festival
The political pressure is matched by a commercial exodus. Pepsi, the festival’s main sponsor for over a decade, confirmed it had “decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival.” It was swiftly followed by drinks giant Diageo, owner of Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan, which said it would not sponsor the 2026 event.
Rockstar Energy, a historical headline partner for the festival, is also understood to have withdrawn its sponsorship. Furthermore, payment provider PayPal, a partner for Live Nation UK festivals, will not feature its branding on any Wireless Festival promotional materials.
The sponsor withdrawals represent a significant reputational and financial blow to the festival, which attracts around 50,000 people per day and bills itself as the UK’s largest rap, hip-hop, and R&B event. Its own charter states it will not tolerate discrimination based on religion or race.
A Controversial Comeback Amid Rising Tension
West is scheduled to headline the festival despite a years-long series of incidents that have drawn global condemnation. He has voiced admiration for Adolf Hitler, advertised a swastika T-shirt for sale, and, less than a year ago, released a song titled ‘Heil Hitler’. He has been barred from the social media platform X on multiple occasions due to antisemitism.
In January 2026, he issued a full-page apology in the Wall Street Journal titled “To Those I’ve Hurt,” in which he stated, “I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.” He attributed his past behaviour to a bipolar disorder and an undiagnosed brain injury from a 2002 car accident, describing a “four-month long, manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour.”
His proposed UK performance occurs against a backdrop of heightened anxiety within British Jewish communities. In March, four ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer service Hatzola were set on fire in Golders Green in an attack investigated as an antisemitic hate crime. This followed an attack in October 2025 where two men were killed at a synagogue in Manchester, an incident declared a terrorist act.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has labelled the festival booking “deeply concerning,” stressing that “antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly.” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson called West’s remarks “completely unacceptable and absolutely disgusting.”
The festival’s organisers faced prior rejection from Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, which reportedly turned down a request for West to perform at its stadium due to the club’s historical connections to London’s Jewish community. According to a source, the approach to Wireless Festival was made after this rejection.
