West, also known as Ye, has drawn widespread criticism in recent years after he began voicing admiration for Adolf Hitler and has made a series of antisemitic remarks.
Last year, he released a song called Heil Hitler, a few months after advertising a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.
Wireless Festival announced last week that West would be headlining all three nights of the North London event.
However, since West’s announcement, the festival has lost two major sponsors, and its decision has been called “deeply concerning” by the Prime Minister.
Calls for Kanye West to be banned from the UK
Labour MPs and senior political figures are calling on the PM to block the rapper’s visa and ban him from the UK.
According to The Telegraph, it is understood that West is yet to make a visa application for his trip to the UK.
Discussing West’s visit to the UK, Labour MP for North Durham, Luke Akehurst, told The Telegraph: “It’s certainly an option we should be looking at given he’s gone from being one of the world’s most impressive artists to releasing a song called ‘Heil Hitler.’”
The UK’s trade envoy to Israel and former Labour MP Lord Austin of Dudley said: “The organisers should cancel his invitation and if not, the council should not allow the festival to go ahead.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called West’s booking ‘deeply concerning’ (Image: PA)
“But either way, the Government should prevent him from coming to the UK.”
The decision to block a person’s visa is at the discretion of the Home Secretary and can be enforced against those who are deemed “non-conducive to the public good”.
Official guidance states that grounds for visa exclusion can also include “extremism” and “unacceptable behaviour.”
Sir Keir Starmer calls Kanye West’s Wireless performance ‘deeply concerning’
As first reported by The Sun on Sunday, Sir Keir said: “It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.
“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.”
Following Sir Keir’s statement, brands Pepsi and Diageo withdrew their sponsorship of Wireless Festival.
The soft drinks company was the main sponsor of the festival, promoting the event under the branding “Pepsi presents Wireless.”
On Sunday, April 5, amid a backlash which included criticism from the Prime Minister, a Pepsi spokesperson said: “Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival.”
Diageo, owner of the Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan brands, told the Press Association on Sunday evening that it had also withdrawn.
A spokesperson said: “We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival.”
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West has not performed in the UK since he headlined Glastonbury in 2015.
In January, West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to apologise, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.”
“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it said. “I love Jewish people.”
Wireless Festival has been contacted for a comment.
