Connect with us

Published

on

Stormzy did not delete an Instagram post in support of Palestinian liberation because of his recent collaboration with McDonald’s, sources close to the rapper have told Sky News.

The 31-year-old grime artist has faced a backlash for removing an old post that said “Free Palestine” after working on a campaign with the fast-food chain.

But sources close to the Vossi Bop rapper exclusively told Sky News that it “is simply not true” that the “archiving” of his Instagram post and the release of the McDonald’s campaign are linked.

Stormzy’s recent McDonald’s partnership packages his “go-to” order as a limited meal option, which the chain has dubbed “The Stormzy Meal” – containing chicken nuggets, fries, BBQ sauce, a Sprite drink, and an Oreo McFlurry.

Stormzy's collaboration with McDonald's has caused much controversy with fans - and has been dubbed 'hypocritical'. Pic: McDonald's
Image:
Stormzy’s collaboration with McDonald’s has caused much controversy with fans – and has been dubbed ‘hypocritical’. Pic: McDonald’s

Critics of Israel called for a global boycott of McDonald’s last year, when McDonald’s Israel announced it donated thousands of free meals to Israel Defence Forces troops fighting in Gaza.

The campaign, led by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, dented sales at McDonald’s.

Rapper Stormzy performing at Glastonbury in 2019, wearing a bulletproof vest designed by Banksy. Pic: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
Image:
Rapper Stormzy performing at Glastonbury in 2019, wearing a bulletproof vest designed by Banksy. Pic: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP

The deletion of Stormzy’s “Free Palestine” post was part of a “mass archiving effort” last year, the sources close to him add.

They said it was “categorically not” linked to his involvement with McDonald’s.

Sky News has contacted McDonald’s for comment.

Stormzy's 2018 performance at The Brit Awards was dedicated to the 72 victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Pic: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP
Image:
Stormzy’s 2018 performance at The Brit Awards was dedicated to the 72 victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Pic: Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP

The now-removed Instagram post read: “I hope everyone is good, some fleeting thoughts.

“1. Free Palestine

“2. In the future, if there is ever a clear injustice in the world, no matter how big or small, 100 times out of 100 I will be on the side of the oppressed. Unequivocally. As I always have been. Social media is a brilliant way to stand up for what is right, there are also a whole load of other ways to do this.”

After the post was deleted, many of Stormzy’s fans shared that they were “disappointed” by the rapper’s “hypocrisy”.

One person on X criticised Stormzy’s McDonald’s campaign, writing it was done “for a bit of money that you don’t even need”. They added: “You deleted this post to do a McDonald’s commercial.”

The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a founding member of the BDS movement, said: “Stormzy’s call for Palestinian freedom in the early stages of Israel’s genocide against 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza, when few artists were speaking out, displayed a clear stance in support of all oppressed people.”

But it added: “Partnering with corporations that are implicated in genocide, apartheid and military occupation can only whitewash those crimes.”

In an open letter to Stormzy, the Peace and Justice Project – founded by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2021 – also said his work with McDonald’s is “hugely disappointing, especially given the musician’s otherwise proud and solid record in supporting great causes and campaigns for social justice”.

The group added: “We are therefore asking Stormzy to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their hour of need and respect the BDS committee’s call for a global boycott of McDonald’s by ending his new partnership with them.”

Indonesian Muslims Boycott McDonald's Over Support For Israel ** STORY AVAILABLE, CONTACT SUPPLIER** Where: Palu City, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia When: 03 Nov 2023 Credit: Opn Images/Cover Images  (Cover Images via AP Images)
Image:
Indonesians boycotting McDonald’s in the country in November 2023. Pic: AP

Much of Gaza lies in ruins after Israel’s war to destroy Hamas.

More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count.

At least 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage when Hamas launched its massacre in Israel on 7 October 2023.

Read more from Sky News:
Grimes criticises Musk
One of UK’s most wanted men jailed
‘City killer’ asteroid could hit Earth

Stormzy has previously supported several social justice issues – including launching a scholarship to help Black students access top universities and dedicating his Brit Award performance in 2018 to the 72 victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

His Instagram biography tags pro-Palestine rapper Lowkey – inviting fans to click on his account and learn about activists’ calls for Palestinian liberation.

Continue Reading

UK

League table of foreign criminals awaiting deportation and their offences set to be published

Published

on

By

League table of foreign criminals awaiting deportation and their offences set to be published

A league table of foreign criminals and their offences is set to be published for the first time.

The plans, due to be announced on Tuesday, will reportedly focus on those offenders awaiting deportation from the UK.

The latest data shows there were 19,244 foreign offenders awaiting deportation at the end of 2024, a rise from 17,907 when the Conservatives left office in July and 14,640 at the end of 2022.

Despite more offenders being deported since Labour came to power, the number waiting to be removed from the UK has been growing.

Factors are understood to include the early release of inmates due to prison overcrowding, instability and diplomatic problems in some countries and a backlog of legal cases appealing deportation.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the decision to publish the nationalities of foreign criminals showed Labour had “buckled” under pressure from the Conservatives to disclose the data.

The latest government statistics show there were 10,355 foreign nationals held in custody in England and Wales at the end of 2024, representing 12% of the prison population.

More on Crime

The most common nationalities after British nationals were Albanian (11%), Polish (8%), Romanian (7%), which also represented the top three nationalities who were deported from the UK in 2024, according to Home Office figures.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is understood to have ordered officials to release the details by the end of the year, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper reported Ms Cooper overruled Home Office officials, who previously claimed it was too difficult to provide quality data on foreign criminals.

A Home Office source said: “Not only are we deporting foreign criminals at a rate never seen when Chris Philp and Robert Jenrick were in charge at the Home Office, but we will also be publishing far more information about that cohort of offenders than the Tories ever did.”

The source added that ministers wanted “to ensure the public is kept better informed about the number of foreign criminals awaiting deportation, where they are from and the crimes they have committed”.

In March, the government announced £5m in funding to deploy staff to 80 jails in England and Wales to speed up the deportation of foreign offenders.

Read more from Sky News:
‘Return hubs’ get UN backing
Sex offender allowed to stay in UK
Woman born in UK faces being deported

Foreign nationals sentenced to 12 months or more in prison are subject to automatic deportation, but the home secretary can also remove criminals if their presence in the UK is not considered desirable.

Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick welcomed the news, saying: “We will finally see the hard reality that mass migration is fuelling crime across our country… Frankly, the public deserved to know this [detail on foreign criminals] long ago.”

Continue Reading

UK

Rachel Reeves to head to Washington amid hopes of US trade deal

Published

on

By

Rachel Reeves to head to Washington amid hopes of US trade deal

Rachel Reeves will pledge to “stand up for Britain’s national interest” as she heads to Washington DC amid hopes of a UK/US trade deal.

The chancellor will fly to the US capital for her spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the first of which began on Sunday.

During her three-day visit, Ms Reeves is set to hold meetings with G7, G20 and IMF counterparts about the changing global economy and is expected to make the case for open trade.

Politics latest: Tributes paid to Pope Francis

Her visit comes after Donald Trump imposed blanket 10% tariffs on all imports into the US, including from the UK, and as talks about reaching a trade deal intensified.

The chancellor will also hold her first in-person meeting with her US counterpart, treasury secretary Scott Bessent, about striking a new trade agreement, which the UK hopes will take the sting out of Mr Trump’s tariffs.

In addition to the 10% levy on all goods imported to America from the UK, Mr Trump enacted a 25% levy on car imports.

Ms Reeves will also be hoping to encourage fellow European finance ministers to increase their defence spending and discuss the best ways to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Read more:
Mission: Impossible? Chancellor heads to the IMF

Starmer and the King pay tribute to Pope Francis

Speaking ahead of her visit, Ms Reeves said: “The world has changed, and we are in a new era of global trade. I am in no doubt that the imposition of tariffs will have a profound impact on the global economy and the economy at home.

“This changing world is unsettling for families who are worried about the cost of living and businesses concerned about what tariffs will mean for them. But our task as a government is not to be knocked off course or to take rash action which risks undermining people’s security.

“Instead, we must rise to meet the moment and I will always act to defend British interests as part of our plan for change.

“We need a world economy that provides stability and fairness for businesses wanting to invest and trade, more trade and global partnerships between nations with shared interests, and security for working people who want to get on with their lives.”

Continue Reading

UK

Murder arrest after woman stabbed to death in Enfield – as victim named

Published

on

By

Murder arrest after woman stabbed to death in Enfield - as victim named

A woman who was stabbed to death in north London has been named by police – as a man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

Pamela Munro, 45, was found with a stab wound and died at the scene in Ayley Croft, Enfield, on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday and is in custody, the force added.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: “Investigating officers have worked relentlessly across the weekend to investigate the circumstances around Pamela’s death.

“We continue to support her family who are understandably devastated.”

GVs from SN footage on 20/04/2025 at scene of murder on 19/04/2025 of woman at Gainsborough House, Ayley Croft, Enfield in north London.
Ingest 25 NM25 SKY SAF ENFIELD MURDER GVS ENFIELD 2045
Image:
Police at the scene at Ayley Croft in Enfield

Read more from Sky News:
Fresh appeal over student’s murder
100 firefighters battle flats blaze

The Met Police has asked anyone with information or who was driving through Ayley Court between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday and may have dashcam footage to contact the force.

Continue Reading

Trending