LONDON: Fifty British peers have urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to ban American rapper Macklemore from entering the UK before his October 30 concert at OVO Arena Wembley.
Their letter asks Mahmood to revoke the rapper’s electronic travel authorisation over plans to donate proceeds from his Free Palestine Tour to organisations supporting Palestinians.
Lord Walney, a former government adviser on political violence, organised the appeal. The lawmakers object to the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), one of the organisations listed as beneficiaries of the concert series.
Walney’s letter accuses PYM of having a “record of glorifying terrorism and intimidating elected representatives”. The organisation denies those allegations and maintains that its activities constitute legitimate political advocacy.
Signatories include former Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles, former Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster, and former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith.
Lord Brady of Altrincham and Lord Roberts of Belgravia also signed the letter. The peers criticised a 2025 PYM campaign encouraging pressure on Labour Party politicians over Palestine.
Read: Macklemore Backs Palestine at Ed Sheeran New Jersey Concert
They characterised the campaign as an attempt to intimidate elected representatives. Macklemore’s London performance remains scheduled for Friday, October 30.
The venue lists several humanitarian and advocacy organisations as beneficiaries. No decision to revoke his travel authorisation had been announced.
The rapper launched his Free Palestine Tour after losing his supporting slot on Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour last month. His removal followed pro-Palestinian remarks during performances at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.
Read: Ed Sheeran Gaza Remarks Address Macklemore Tour Controversy
Macklemore has attributed the dispute to pressure from billionaire Robert Kraft, while Sheeran has said the tour promoter made the decision. The tour includes performances in Dublin, Paris and London.
