PEERS URGE SHABANA MAHMOOD TO BAR MACKLEMORE FROM BRITAIN

Fifty peers have urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to bar Macklemore from Britain before his concert at OVO Arena, Wembley, on 30 October. Lord Walney, a former government adviser on political violence, wrote the letter asking Mahmood to revoke the musician’s electronic travel authorisation. The peers argue that his visit is “not conducive to the public good” because they say some concert proceeds will go to the Palestinian Youth Movement. Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, has scheduled the performance as part of his Free Palestine Tour.

The Palestinian Youth Movement has faced accusations of celebrating and having links to terrorist organisations, which it denies. The group also drew criticism for a post on X after the 7 October attacks in Israel that read: “When people are occupied, resistance is justified”. In their letter, the peers accuse the group of glorifying terrorism and intimidating elected representatives. They say refusing Macklemore entry would be “proportionate and narrowly targeted”.

Macklemore announced the Free Palestine Tour after Ed Sheeran removed him from his tour following Macklemore’s expression of support for Palestine on stage. Macklemore promised to donate money from ticket sales to organisations supporting Palestine. The peers say their proposed refusal would leave people in Britain free to support the other humanitarian organisations on his list and listen to his music. They have asked Mahmood to prevent him from raising funds in Britain for the Palestinian Youth Movement.