Fifty members of the House of Lords have urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to prevent US rapper Macklemore from entering Britain ahead of his planned London concert supporting Palestinian causes on Friday 30 October.
The letter, organised by Lord Walney, calls for the cancellation of Macklemore’s electronic travel authorisation. Its signatories argue that allowing the concert to raise money for the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) would not be conducive to the public good. The request is not itself a government decision to refuse entry.
The concert, billed as Macklemore & Friends: Free Palestine Tour, remains listed for OVO Arena Wembley, with doors scheduled to open at 6pm on 30 October.
Why are the peers seeking an exclusion?
According to reporting on the letter, the peers object to the Palestinian Youth Movement being included among the organisations due to benefit from the tour. They allege that the group has glorified terrorism and intimidated elected representatives, particularly through a campaign encouraging pressure on Labour politicians and constituency offices.
Lord Walney, a former government adviser on political violence, argues that the group’s protest tactics risk coercing MPs. The PYM rejects allegations that it celebrates terrorism or has links to terrorist organisations. These are contested allegations, not findings established by the letter.
The published account of the letter says its authors consider an exclusion a limited response because it would not prohibit the music itself or prevent donations to other organisations.
The concert supports 12 organisations
The issue is wider than a single beneficiary. The official venue listing says proceeds from the concert series will support 12 organisations undertaking humanitarian, medical, educational, advocacy and community work.
- Anera
- Glia
- Gaza Soup Kitchen
- Taawon
- HEAL Palestine
- Palestinian Youth Movement
- Middle East Children’s Alliance
- Jewish Voice for Peace
- Medical Aid for Palestinians
- Institute for Middle East Understanding
- Palestine Children’s Relief Fund
- UNRWA USA
The event information does not state how proceeds will be divided between recipients. Nor does the announced beneficiary list, on its own, establish that any particular payment has already been made.
Which peers have been named?
Seven peers are identified across published reporting as having organised or backed the letter:
- Lord Walney (John Woodcock), who organised the letter
- Lord Pickles (Eric Pickles), former Conservative Party chairman
- Baroness Foster (Arlene Foster), former Northern Ireland First Minister
- Lord Brady (Graham Brady), former chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee
- Lord Pannick (David Pannick), barrister and crossbench peer
- Lord Roberts (Andrew Roberts), historian
- Lord Goldsmith, whose first name is reported inconsistently by different publications
The full list of 50 signatories has not been independently verified. In particular, published reports disagree on the identity of Lord Goldsmith, so Fish 4 News is not assigning a first name without documentary confirmation.
Lord Pickles has held a senior position in Conservative Friends of Israel, while Lord Pannick has been publicly identified as a patron of UK Lawyers for Israel. Such affiliations are relevant background but do not, in themselves, establish any improper motive for signing.
Can the Home Secretary bar Macklemore?
The UK can refuse or cancel permission where a person’s presence is judged not conducive to the public good. Separate Home Office guidance on exclusion explains that such decisions are generally reserved for matters including national security, extremism, serious crime and unacceptable behaviour.
Those powers do not mean that a demand from parliamentarians automatically meets the legal test. Any action would be a decision for the Home Office, based on the relevant circumstances and evidence.
What remains unanswered?
As of Tuesday 27 October, the concert is still advertised by the venue, and Fish 4 News has not established that the Home Office has made a decision to exclude Macklemore. The entire signed letter is not publicly available to us, and the complete identity of all 50 peers remains unverified.
Fish 4 News has written to Lord Walney requesting the original letter, the complete list of signatories, the grounds relied on and details of any Home Office response. We will report any substantive reply separately.
