The ‘ecstatic adulation’ of chanting crowds was as much the problem as Bob Vylan, says Gove

The thousands of people in the audience who cheered and joined in as Bob Vylan called for the deaths of IDF soldiers is symptomatic of a wider problem facing Western society, Michael Gove has suggested.

The rap duo led thousands in a chant of “Death, death to the IDF” and went on a rant about “Zionists” in the music industry during their Glastonbury set on Saturday, which was streamed live on BBC iPlayer. They have since been dropped by their agent, had upcoming tours cancelled and their American visas revoked as a result. A criminal investigation is also underway into the performance.

Tim Davie, director general of the BBC, has since issued an apology to the Jewish community for not halting the live stream.

Speaking in front of 120 guests at Jewish Care’s 103rd Business Breakfast on Tuesday morning at Claridge’s, Gove, who became editor of The Spectator in October, said the more disturbing element of the whole incident was the “ecstatic” young crowd who joined in with the chant.

He said: “There has been condemnation and a legitimate debate about whether Kneecap and Bob Vylan should have been invited to play at Glastonbury. There is a current debate about whether as soon as Bob Vylan said what he said the BBC should have immediately let the speakers go dark.

“But for me, the broader question is why is it that Bob Vylan and Kneecap are playing in front of thousands of young people who responded with the ecstatic adulation that they did? I think it speaks to a broader problem in British and in Western society at the moment. Why has the militant expression of hatred metastasised in that way?”

Gove went on: “I think there are a variety of factors. They are nuanced and complex, but we need to analyse them effectively in order to counter them in the most powerful way.”

A cabinet minister across five government departments for more than a decade, Gove stepped down as MP for Surrey Heath at the 2024 General Election. He was made a life peer in May this year in Rishi Sunak’s honours list and, in October, was appointed editor of the Spectator.

He was interviewed during Jewish Care’s Business Breakfast by journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of the Observer, James Harding, and together they covered a range of topics including the global rise in antisemitism and the highs and lows of different prime ministers.

Jewish Care's 103rd Business Breakfast (Credit: Jewish Care)[Missing Credit]

Gove paid dues to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s “steady hand on foreign policy” and was complimentary of Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who he said “has been proven right” on a number of big issues and judgements.

Gove, who is a “proud” supporter of Jewish Care, concluded by drawing the raffle for tickets to the Last Night of the Proms, which had been donated by supporters.

More than £46,000 was raised during the event to support the services of Jewish Care, which is the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the Southeast. With four campuses, nine care homes, nine community centres, and three centres for people living with dementia, the charity touches the lives of some 12,000 people each week. Over 1,650 young people and adults in the community currently benefit from mental health charity Jami, which is part of Jewish Care.

Ellisa Estrin, Jewish Care’s director of fundraising and marketing, said: “We are so grateful to all of our guests who have helped to raise over £46,000 for our core services. I would like to thank Lord Leigh and the Business Breakfast Committee for their continued support and commitment at our 103rd Business Breakfast, along with Michael Gove and James Harding, without whom, we could not have raised the funds this morning to help ensure that we can be there for those in our community who need us most.”