Michael Gove and Sir Keir Starmer condemn Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters over claims rocker is sharing anti-Semitic views at his concerts – as he rewears ‘Nazi’ outfit at O2 gig despite protests outside venue
- Sir Keir ‘fully condemns’ Waters for having ‘clearly espoused antisemitic views’
- Gove said Waters was ‘falling short’ of an expectation to ‘behave responsibly’
- Roger Waters said his performance was clearly to show ‘opposition to fascism’
Michael Gove and Sir Keir Starmer have criticised Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters amid claims the musician is sharing antisemitic views at his concerts.
The musician wore his controversial ‘Nazi-style’ coat again yesterday at his London concert, despite protests outside the O2. He also reportedly pretended to shoot the crowd with an imitation machine gun during his hit songs In The Flesh and Run Like Hell.
Mr Waters has claimed the elements of his performance being called into question are ‘quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice and bigotry in all its forms’.
But Sir Keir has now said his party ‘fully condemns’ Mr Waters for having ‘clearly espoused antisemitic views’. The Labour leader suggested that shows by the rocker should be called off in order to block him from spreading his ‘troubling’ beliefs.
Mr Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, claimed the former Pink Floyd bassist was ‘falling short’ of an expectation that those with a significant public profile ‘behave responsibly and do not abuse their platform’.
It comes after the Board of Deputies of British Jews wrote to senior politicians warning of concerns among Jewish communities in cities where the musician is scheduled to tour.
Michael Gove and Sir Keir Starmer have criticised Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters amid claims the musician is sharing antisemitic views at his concerts. Mr Waters is pictured last night during his London concert at the O2
Supporters of the Jewish community demonstrated outside The O2 Arena last night before Mr Waters performed (pictured)
Sir Keir (left) has now said his party ‘fully condemns’ Mr Waters for having ‘clearly espoused antisemitic views’. Mr Gove (right) claimed the former Pink Floyd bassist was ‘falling short’ of an expectation that those with a significant public profile ‘behave responsibly and do not abuse their platform’
Mr Waters, who is being investigated by German police for wearing a long black trench coat with a red armband during his recent show in Berlin, was back wearing the outfit again last night.
The 79-year-old had previously ditched the coat and gun at his concerts in Frankfurt and Birmingham and ranted about people wanting him cancelled.
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters rewears ‘Nazi’ outfit at O2 gig despite protests outside the venue: READ MORE
But last night he defiantly wore the costume, said to be reminiscent of an SS officer, even though protesters gathered outside the stadium before the show holding placards and flags.
The seemingly antisemitic display prompted the Board of Deputies of British Jews to detail their concerns to the Government.
In a response, Mr Gove wrote: ‘The Government is clear that everyone has a clear and fundamental right to freedom of speech and artistic expression, so long as they remain within the boundaries set by law.
‘There is also a societal expectation placed on people with a significant public profile to behave responsibly and not abuse their platform. This is an expectation of which Roger Waters is reportedly falling short.’
Sir Keir said: ‘The Labour Party stands with the Jewish community and fully condemns Roger Waters.
‘Many people will think of Roger Waters as famous for being a member of one of the most important bands in history, but he is now more synonymous with spreading deeply troubling antisemitism and that is why I believe this show should not be allowed to go ahead.’
Footage shared on social media of Mr Waters, who is scheduled to perform in London and Manchester over the coming week, appears to show him at a recent show saying: ‘I watched Jeremy Corbyn being cancelled by the Israeli lobby. That is what happened in 2019.’
At another concert in Germany he was pictured wearing a Nazi-like costume, dressed in a long black coat with a red armband and brandishing an imitation machine gun.
He was back wearing the controversial outfit again as he performed in London
Mr Rogers last night (pictured) reportedly pretended to shoot the crowd with an imitation machine gun during his hit songs In The Flesh and Run Like Hell
Mr Waters performs on stage at The O2 Arena last night
Mr Waters told the Independent on Saturday: ‘My recent performance in Berlin has attracted bad faith attacks from those who want to smear and silence me because they disagree with my political views and moral principles.’
He added: ‘The depiction of an unhinged facist has been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyd’s The Wall in 1980.
‘I have spent my entire life speaking out against authoritarianism and oppression wherever I see it.
READ MORE: Roger Waters is investigated by German police
‘When I was a child after the war, the name of Anne Frank was often spoken in our house, she became a permanent reminder of what happens when fascism is left unchecked. My parents fought the Nazis in World War II with my father paying the ultimate price.’
In a statement released several weeks ago, the Board of Deputies made it clear that Mr Waters’ performances are ‘not just concerts, but political rallies in which he gives his worldview’.
Marie van der Zyl, president of the Board of Deputies, thanked Sir Keir and Mr Gove for their responses on the issue today, saying: ‘We are extremely grateful that both Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Communities and Local Government and Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Labour Party, have expressed their concern to us directly regarding Roger Waters and his performances.
‘I would also like to thank all regional and local politicians who have spoken out against this tour and stood with the wider Jewish community.’
Meanwhile, Labour MP Christian Wakeford has already voiced concerns over Mr Waters’ gig at the AO Arena on June 10 and said it should not go ahead.
Addressing the House of Commons, the MP for Bury South said the Star of David on a giant pig, the name of Jewish diarist Anne Frank and an ‘SS soldier’ outfit had been among features of Mr Waters’ recent show in Germany.
He suggested some of the imagery was being used to ‘insinuate that Jewish people run the world’, playing into antisemitic tropes.
‘The Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester has issued a statement condemning his divisive actions,’ Mr Wakeford said.
‘Will the Leader of the House agree with me that concerts like this have no place in our society and shouldn’t go ahead, and agree to a debate in Government time on the record levels in anti-Jewish hatred in this country?’
Many protested outside the 02 Arena in London last night ahead of the performance
Protestors gathered outside the stadium before the show holding placards and flags
A demonstrator outside the O2 Arena before Roger Waters’ performance on June 6
Mr Waters performed in the controversial coat at Berlin’s Mercedes-Benz Arena on May 17. The concert also saw Third Reich style banners hung from the stage.
Germany bans displaying Nazi symbols – but the country’s laws allow exceptions for artistic or educational reasons.
Mr Waters, who has worn the outfit at previous shows dating back several years, said his performance was clearly to show ‘opposition to fascism.’
The costume is similar to that worn in the 1982 film, The Wall, based on the Pink Floyd album of the same name.
German police are now investigating Mr Waters’ choice of costume as it ‘could be used to glorify Nazi rule.’
German police spokesman Martin Halweg said: ‘We are investigating on suspicion of incitement to public hatred because the clothing worn on stage could be used to glorify or justify Nazi rule, thereby disturbing the public peace.’
He added: ‘The clothing resembles the clothing of an SS officer.’
Mr Waters later tweeted: ‘The elements of my performance that have been questioned are quite clearly a statement in opposition to fascism, injustice, and bigotry in all its forms… The depiction of an unhinged fascist demagogue has been a feature of my shows since Pink Floyd’s The Wall in 1980.’
He is playing another show at the O2 tonight as part of his This Is Not a Drill Tour.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Roger Waters for comment.
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