Smith told Times Radio that the BBC “made a mistake here. It’s not good enough simply to say on screen that this is dodgy language.”
A government spokesperson confirmed that Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken with BBC Director General Tim Davie about the performance.
Opposition politicians have already been piling in. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Vylan was “inciting violence and hatred” and even suggested the BBC should be prosecuted for broadcasting the footage.
Philp added: “Our national broadcaster should not be transmitting hateful material designed to incite violence and conflict.”
Bob Vylan are not the first act to come under intense scrutiny over their stance on Israel’s war in Gaza.
Irish hip hop trio Kneecap also performed at Glastonbury. One of their members Liam Óg is facing a terror charge for allegedly displaying a flag supporting the proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig. He denies the charge.
