Cleverly accuses Glastonbury festival-goers of ‘celebrating loss of life’ after Banksy small boats stunt
The home secretary attacked the artist and revellers at the festival for ‘joking about and celebrating’ small boat migration
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.James Cleverly has accused festival-goers of “celebrating the loss of life in the Channel” after a Banksy stunt at Glastonbury.
The home secretary attacked the artist and revellers at the festival, claiming they were “joking about and celebrating” small boat migration.
“People die in the Mediterranean, people die in the Channel, this is not funny, it is vile,” he told Sky News on Monday morning. “This is a celebration of the loss of life in the Channel,” Mr Cleverly told Sky News.
It came after a small boat filled with migrant dummies in orange life jackets was hoisted into the crowd gathered to watch the band Idles play on the Other Stage at Worthy Farm on Friday night.
On Sunday, Banksy claimed the stunt and posted a video of the boat sailing through the crowd during the band’s set to his Instagram page. The band said they were unaware of the stunt until after their set.
The boat appeared while the Bristol rock band was performing Danny Nedelko, a 2018 release that begins with the lyrics: “My blood brother is an immigrant, a beautiful immigrant.”
Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden also hit out at the stunt, telling Times Radio: “I was really saddened by it, actually. If you look at what happens with men, women, children being shoved onto those dinghies – the criminal gangs only fill them half with petrol, so they run out halfway across the English Channel and start to sink, endangering people’s lives. I don’t think this is the sort of thing to joke around with at Glastonbury.”
Pressed on what action the government is taking to prevent the loss of life in the English Channel, he said: “I am determined to break the criminal gangs, we are going after their money, we are going after the boats and we are going after the engines.
“Something like that is deeply distasteful, children die in the Channel because of the actions of these vile criminals and joking about it and celebrating I think is completely wrong.”
Last week Rishi Sunak’s promise to “stop the boats” carrying migrants across the Channel suffered a blow as the number of arrivals since he became crossed 50,000 - including a record number this year so far.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments