After almost two decades in power, the SNP remain the party to beat.

Ahead of the election on 7 May, we took to the streets of Clackmannanshire to ask voters what key challenges they want the next Scottish government to prioritise.

The local authority area – known as the Wee County – often reflects the opinion of Scotland as a whole.

Indeed, the late former first minister Alex Salmond once told Sky News that he began to write his concession speech during the Scottish independence referendum in 2014 after Clacks was the first to declare, and it was a resounding “no”.

Here are some of the top issues voters want to see tackled.

Alleviating the cost of living crisis

The UK barely emerged from the COVID pandemic before it plunged into a cost-of-living crisis.

Years on, the situation is yet to improve for households across the country.

All those we spoke to highlighted their financial woes – from having to spend more on food and general bills, to watching their energy costs soar.

Jackie Conroy and Karen McInroy, who work at Coalsnaughton Post Office and Premier store, said they had noticed a change since the pandemic.

Ms McInroy said: “Everything is getting dearer and dearer and dearer.

“Even when your wages go up, they’re not going up enough to cover everything else. Something needs to be done about that.”

Many spoke of their concern over the negative effects of the Ukraine-Russia and US/Israel-Iran conflicts.

Ms McInroy said the recent warring in the Middle East had cost her extra at the petrol pump, with further fears a potential fuel shortage could affect her ability to travel to work.

Married couple Liz and Grant Gillespie also agreed there has been a “build-up” since COVID, with careful consideration now given in regard to eating out for dinner, cinema trips and the like.

Mr Gillespie added: “Everything is getting tighter and tighter. Some people can’t afford these things anymore.”

Turning the NHS around

Scotland’s NHS continues to struggle with A&E delays and long waiting times for routine operations.

The rollout of GP walk-in clinics has begun, with 16 planned centres across the country as part of an investment in primary care.

Campaigner Linda McLeod knows all too well how important the health service is.

She suffers from emphysema – an irreversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – and would like to see additional funds funnelled into tackling debilitating lung conditions.

Mrs McLeod said: “I think lung conditions are massively under-represented and under-invested.

“Lung disease kills tens of thousands of people every year.

“Whoever forms the next Scottish government needs to invest in and focus on early diagnosis, treatment, care and self-management.”

Mrs McLeod chairs support group Breathe Easy Clackmannanshire – a registered charity affiliated to Asthma + Lung UK – and would like to see a tobacco-free Scotland.

She said: “I’m concerned about the usage of vapes and the significant risk to lung health.

“I struggle every day with my emphysema but hope to once again be a part of the next government’s cross-party group on lung health.

“I do believe that everything that can be done, should be done to protect the lung health of future generations.”

Other voters said they would like to see more money invested into retaining and attracting health workers, with some also calling for additional cash to boost mental health support.

And while immigration is a reserved matter for Westminster, a number of those we spoke to said it was an important issue for the Holyrood election and should not be ignored.

One woman, who did not wish to be named given the contentious debate, said: “People with legitimate concerns are being called racist and brushed aside.

“I think people who come into this country and haven’t contributed to it shouldn’t be getting free National Health Service.”

Tackling Scotland’s drug deaths ‘shame’

Drug misuse continues to blight Scotland’s neighbourhoods.

Official data released last year showed there were 1,017 drug-related deaths in 2024, down 155 (13%) from 2023.

National Records of Scotland (NRS) said while it was the lowest annual number since 2017, the nation remains the drug death capital of Europe.

Voter Peter Fisher said: “It’s Scotland’s shame, it’s embarrassing. It’s a national emergency.

“But the shame isn’t on the addicts – anyone could become an addict. It’s the government that needs to do more to help people.”

Mr Fisher would like to see increased investment in treatment centres and additional support for those who need it most.

Last month, separate statistics published by the Scottish government reported that suspected drug-related deaths had risen by 8% from 1,065 in 2024 to 1,146 in 2025.

The highest number of deaths – 243 – were recorded in Police Scotland’s Greater Glasgow division.

When the official stats are released later this year, all eyes will be on that Glasgow number given the city is now home to the UK’s first safer drug consumption facility (SDCF).

The Thistle opened in January 2025 and allows users to be able to consume drugs, including injecting heroin, under supervision in a clean and hygienic environment.

Up to March 2026, the service has been accessed 15,158 times by 671 people (525 men and 146 women).

A total of 10,498 injections have taken place at the facility, with staff able to treat 137 medical emergencies.

The pilot service is being backed by up to £2.3m of Holyrood funding a year in a bid to offset wider public costs, but it is not to be seen as a “silver bullet” to tackle the crisis.

Meanwhile, a consultation is ongoing in Edinburgh amid plans to open a SDCF in the Scottish capital.

While work will continue to widen access to treatment, residential rehabilitation and life-saving naloxone, a new Alcohol and Drugs Strategic Plan (2026-2035) will aim to prevent harm and promote recovery over the next decade.

Douglas Ross’ Right to Recovery (Scotland) Bill – which would have enshrined in law the right to treatment for people with drug addiction – was voted down at Holyrood last year.

It came after the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee raised a number of concerns – including the cost of the proposal; its potential to put further pressure on over-stretched resources; and fears of a rise in litigation if health services were unable to meet the legal rights on time.

Mr Fisher said: “I think the consumption room will work. And if it does, they should open more.

“But if it doesn’t, then they’ll need to come up with another plan as that [situation] can’t continue.”

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Stop treating taxpayers’ cash like ‘Monopoly money’

Voters appear to have had enough of politicians and public bodies treating taxpayers’ cash like “Monopoly money”.

Some of those we spoke to voiced their condemnation of ministerial cars being misused, with Alex McEwan adding that government agencies should “rein in their spending”.

The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS), which regulates Scottish Water, was one such body that was previously quizzed over its purchases – which included spending £77,350 to send a senior executive to Harvard University in the US and a further £2,600 to provide every staff member with a £100 gift card for Christmas.

Ms McEwan said: “It actually infuriates me when I see MSPs, who get paid like £75,000 a year, charge taxpayers for things like toilet rolls or meals.

“They treat it like Monopoly money. I pay my taxes to support public services, not buy an MSP a lunchtime juice when they’re on double my wage.”

But for many, the biggest scandal of the last parliamentary term was Michael Matheson’s £11,000 iPad data roaming bill.

The outgoing Falkirk West MSP, who is not standing in the upcoming election, initially billed taxpayers but later U-turned after questions were raised over the eye-watering sum.

Mr Matheson had claimed the device had only been used for parliamentary work during a family holiday to Morocco, but it later emerged his teenage sons had been using it as a hotspot to stream football while on the trip.

Mr Matheson stepped down as health secretary and was later suspended from the Scottish parliament and docked wages for breaching the MSP code of conduct.

Voter Ryan Martin said: “If they step out of line, they shouldn’t be protected by their party. They should be out on their ear.

“I don’t ever want to see a situation like the Michael Matheson one ever again.”

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Other ongoing issues that will roll into the next parliament:

• Scottish independence

The campaign for Scottish independence has not stopped following the result of the 2014 referendum.

Although indyref was touted as a “once in a generation opportunity to follow a different path”, dissatisfaction with the outcome has led to campaigners continually calling for a second vote.

The country has changed over the past 12 years, having gone through Brexit and the COVID pandemic, which has reshaped the constitutional debate.

However, those who voted against independence and would continue to do so are frustrated the historic result is not being respected.

The argument has gone all the way to the UK Supreme Court, which ruled in 2022 that the Scottish government cannot legislate for indyref2 without Westminster approval.

If a majority of pro-independence MSPs are returned in May but Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refuses a request for another referendum, the new administration will need to reveal how it intends to overcome the block.

If the alternative happens and the new Scottish government instead wishes to remain part of the UK, then it will have to demonstrate the benefits of staying in the Union and win over sceptics before Holyrood 2031.

• Overcrowding in prisons

Scotland consistently has one of the highest prison population rates in Western Europe.

Overcrowding in the estate is not a unique problem in the nation, as jails across the UK are facing similar issues.

In a bid to tackle the continuous record-high numbers, more than 1,000 inmates have been released early from their sentences since 2024.

The automatic release point for short-term prisoners has also been reduced from 40% to 30% of their sentence.

HMP Highland, which is replacing HMP Inverness, is scheduled for completion this year. While the £1bn HMP Glasgow, replacing the notorious HMP Barlinnie, is not expected to open until 2028.

As these are replacement jails with less than 500 additional spaces between them, there are concerns the overcrowding crisis will continue.

As the judiciary acts independently, the Scottish government cannot control or dictate the specific sentences imposed by courts.

The continual emergency early release of prisoners could risk eroding trust in the criminal justice system – but the call for building more jails is seen as unsustainable, ineffective and expensive.

The independent Sentencing and Penal Policy Commission has recommended earlier intervention through greater use of alternatives to court, reducing the use of ineffective short prison sentences, and expanding high-quality, flexible community sentences to address the causes of offending.

Without significant reform, the crisis risks continuing for many years to come.

• The ferries fiasco

The ferries fiasco has become one of Scotland’s biggest political scandals – and looks set to continue to the end of the decade.

Back in 2017, then first minister Nicola Sturgeon “launched” MV Glen Sannox with painted on windows.

The vessel eventually entered service last year, with sister ship MV Glen Rosa not due to be handed over until the end of 2026.

The total cost of both CalMac ferries – built by Ferguson Marine – has soared to around four times more than the initial £97.5m contract.

And then to top it all off, the two vessels are too large to berth safely at Ardrossan Harbour to serve the mainland-Isle of Arran route.

The Scottish government has spent £16m to bring the harbour into public ownership – but the work needed to allow both ferries to dock will not start until 2027 and is expected to take two years to complete.

The Glen Sannox, which has been repeatedly sidelined due to issues since its first sailing, now uses Troon – around 15 miles away – as its mainland base.

CalMac recently suffered ferry shortages on its west coast island network, caused by a mix of planned maintenance and unexpected technical issues.

In an update on Tuesday, the ferry operator said the situation had worsened with almost a third of its entire fleet unavailable.

MV Isle of Islay, one of four new CalMac ferries built in Turkey, has entered service to provide a mainland link to the people and businesses of Islay and Jura.

Meanwhile, the publicly-owned Ferguson Marine – the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde – has been awarded contracts for four new vessels as part of efforts to help it succeed.

Given that the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa disruption is scheduled to continue until 2029, do not expect the political pressure to ease up at Holyrood until both ferries are floating comfortably at Ardrossan Harbour and CalMac has a full working fleet fit for the future.

• The management of transgender prisoners

The Scottish government is currently in the midst of legal action over its policy on the management of transgender prisoners.

For Women Scotland (FWS) is challenging the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) guidance, arguing that only those born biologically female should be held in the women’s estate.

It follows the campaign group’s landmark win at the UK Supreme Court last year, which ruled the definition of a “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refers to “a biological woman and biological sex”.

That long-running battle with the Scottish government has cost taxpayers more than £766,000.

Both parties are now awaiting Lady Ross’ ruling on the latest judicial review at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.

Current guidance allows for a transgender woman to be admitted into the female estate if the inmate does not meet the violence against women and girls criteria, and there is no basis “to suppose” they could pose an “unacceptable risk of harm” to those also housed there.

FWS is arguing the policy is “inconsistent” with the Supreme Court judgment.

During three days of hearings earlier this year, lawyers acting on behalf of the Scottish government argued it is right for ministers to take a “case-by-case” approach to transgender prisoners.

Gerry Moynihan KC cited case law and article eight of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in relation to the rights of trans people to live in their acquired gender.

Whatever the outcome, the next Holyrood administration will be keen to avoid another Isla Bryson moment.

The transgender criminal – who raped two women while known as Adam Graham – was initially housed in a women-only prison before being swiftly moved to the male estate following a public outcry in 2023.

The controversial case continues to rumble on to this day.

Darren White was one of the first lung transplant patients to have a patch from their donor grafted onto the skin.

The 53-year-old was given steroids when tests showed his body was rejecting his lung three months after the operation.

Over a year later, he is doing well and said he can now be “more of a dad” to his toddler, Daniel, because he can walk and take him to the park.

Experts leading the Sentinel trial said the skin flap, which is grafted on to patients’ forearms at the same time of their lung transplant, acts as a window.

Scientists believe the skin reacts earlier than other organs and is more visible, meaning medics can treat rejection as soon as a rash appears in order to cut the risk of permanent damage.

So far 10 patients have received 10cm by 3cm patches from their organ donor as part of the study.

In 2024, the former bus driver was diagnosed with lung fibrosis, which causes the lungs to become scarred and leads to breathing difficulties.

He had a transplant later that year and said he did not hesitate to agree when approached about the Sentinel trial while he was on the waiting list.

“Anything that might help to avoid rejection was worth a try,” Mr White, from Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, said.

“Rejection is the biggest fear of any transplant recipient, so having something that might be able to catch it much sooner than otherwise was really appealing.”

Lung rejection is typically hard to detect because it can involve blood tests, biopsies and X-rays, according to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT).

Rates of rejection are typically highest in the first three to six months post-surgery and occur in almost a third of patients.

Three months after his transplant, Mr White noticed a purple rash on the flap and sent photos to doctors.

A biopsy showed mild rejection, and he was treated with steroids.

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“I definitely believe the skin patch helped to stop the lungs from being rejected,” Mr White said.

“I was feeling fine; there was no reason for me to think that the lungs were being rejected. The only sign was the rash.

“I’m over a year post-transplant now and doing really well.”

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The Sentinel trial is set to run until 2027 and will recruit 152 patients. The families of donors must consent for the skin transplant to take place.

Henk Giele, chief investigator of Sentinel and a plastic surgeon in Oxford, said: “It seems logical that having a window to your transplant can provide an early warning system of rejection or reassure you that you don’t have rejection, but we have to prove it works.

“We are so grateful to the patients, the donors and their families, the transplant teams, and the NHSBT staff who make this important trial happen.”

A murder investigation has been launched by the Metropolitan Police after officers were called to the park, which boasts panoramic views of the capital.

Police added that a second man, believed to be in his 20s, was found on nearby Regent’s Park Road with stab wounds.

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The Type 45 destroyer is capable of shooting down the types of drones and ballistic missiles being launched by Iran.

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However, the vessel has a “minor technical issue” with its water systems, and the ship has docked in the eastern Mediterranean for what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has described as a “routine logistics stop and a short maintenance period”.

The MoD added in a statement: “HMS Dragon will remain at a very high level of readiness during this period, able to sail at short notice if required.”

HMS Dragon is one of a number of British military assets in the region which are defending UK bases and allied nations from Iranian-made drones and other weapons.

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A Shahed-136 drone hit RAF Akrotiri – one of two major British bases in Cyprus – on 2 March, prompting the prime minister to deploy the ship.

But it took another week to leave Portsmouth, and then around another two weeks to arrive in the eastern Mediterranean.

It has raised concerns among some military analysts about the UK’s military preparedness and ability to respond to threats.

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Former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe told Sky’s This Is Why podcast that one reason is down to a “30-year decline” in defence spending.

But at the time, Defence Secretary John Healey pointed out that the crew completed the necessary work to prepare for deployment in six days, compared with the usual six weeks.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has been critical of the UK’s decision to provide only defensive support.

He compared Royal Navy ships to “toys”, adding they are “too old” and “broken-down”.

Military sources said the technical issue has not affected the ship’s operation, and the crew have access to water for washing and catering as normal.

In an update about the ship, the MoD confirmed in a statement: “HMS Dragon is undertaking a routine logistics stop and a short maintenance period in the Eastern Mediterranean, allowing the ship to take onboard provisions, optimise systems, and conduct maintenance.”

Egyptian national Karin Al-Danasurt, 20, is accused of spitting on a woman, calling her a “dirty bitch” and encouraging co-defendants Ibrahim Alshafe, 25, and Abdulla Ahmadi, 26, to rape her on 4 October last year.

Prosecutors described the alleged attack as “cynical, predatory and callous”.

The woman had been separated from her friends on a night out when the trio found her “staggering in the street” alone, jurors were told.

Hove Crown Court heard that footage showed the woman falling down twice.

Iranian national Ahmadi and Egyptian national Alshafe have each denied two counts of raping the woman.

Al-Danasurt is jointly charged on all four rape counts as a secondary party “encouraging the rape by his actions at the scene, including filming it”, and has pleaded not guilty to all four charges.

Wireless Festival cancelled after Kanye West blocked from entering UK

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He denies a fifth count of “sharing intimate films” without the complainant’s consent after allegedly sending footage of the alleged attack to Ahmadi on Snapchat.

He told jurors that by filming three videos he was trying to get Alshafe and Ahmadi to stop and also so he could show somebody what had happened.

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Before he filmed the alleged incident, he said he tried to “grab them away” from the woman, the court heard.

But his defence was branded a “pack of lies” by prosecutor Hanna Llewellyn-Waters KC.

“I suggest what you’ve done in your evidence is put on a performance with a string of lies to hide your true involvement,” she added.

The defendant replied: “What I said is totally the truth, I’m not lying, I’m telling the truth.”

The court heard how Al-Danasurt also yelled “God will expose you” to the two men during the alleged rape.

“You found it entertaining, didn’t you?”, Ms Llewellyn-Waters asked him.

“No, there was no entertainment at all,” he replied.

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At the time of the alleged offences all three defendants lived in a Home Office-approved migrant hotel in Lower Beeding, near Horsham.

On Tuesday, Alshafe also began giving his evidence of the events and said the complainant approached him and Ahmadi, and asked how they were before kissing and touching them both.

Asked if she appeared drunk, Alshafe said no and that from her touching them and laughing their understanding was she wanted to have sex.

He added: “That is everything that came to my mind because of that and she also said something like ‘come to sex’.”

The trial continues.

The ban was announced as his presence would “not be conducive to public good”, Sky News understands, after a backlash over the rapper being booked to headline all three nights of the London event.

West, who is also known as Ye, has been heavily criticised ​for antisemitic remarks and ​celebrating Nazism, ​which have led to his social ⁠media accounts being blocked on numerous occasions.

Following the government announcement, Wireless organisers quickly released a statement saying the festival would no longer go ahead, adding that holders of presale tickets – made available only a few hours earlier – would be refunded.

“The Home Office has withdrawn Ye’s ETA [electronic travel authorisation], denying him entry into the United Kingdom,” promoters Festival Republic said in a statement. “As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket holders.”

Major sponsors, including Pepsi, Rockstar Energy and Diageo pulled out, of the event over the bank holiday weekend, and the booking had faced criticism from the prime minister, other politicians and Jewish community groups.

In their statement, Festival Republic said “multiple stakeholders” had been consulted in advance of booking West – and “no concerns were highlighted at the time”.

They continued: “Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had. As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer posted online after the ban was announced.

“Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless,” he said. “This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.”

In recent years, West has posted antisemitic comments on social media, directed people to a swastika T-shirt during a Super Bowl advert, and released a song referencing Hitler.

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He issued a public apology for his past behaviour in January, blaming his behaviour on having bipolar-1 disorder, and saying he had “lost touch with reality”.

Before the government’s announcement, he released a statement saying he hoped to come to London “and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through music”.

He also said he wanted to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK “in person, to listen”, and added: “I know words aren’t enough – I’ve have to show change through my actions.”

But many critics said his words were not enough.

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told Sky News the government had made the right decision, but that it was “deeply regrettable” that he was booked in the first place.

“Wireless has now been cancelled, but it should never have reached this point,” he said. “The situation could and should have been resolved much earlier.

“We hope that lessons are learned across the industry. Music festivals should be places where all communities feel welcome, not venues that platform individuals with records of profiteering from antisemitism, racism, and other repulsive views.”

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The government has discretion to ban foreign nationals from the UK if their presence is not considered “conducive to the public good”.

A ban can be ordered by the home secretary personally, and government guidance states it will normally involve serious issues such as national security, war crimes, corruption or extremism.

It’s understood an application for West to travel to the UK was made on Monday via an electronic travel authorisation, and while it was initially granted online, ministers subsequently intervened to block his entry.

Barton, 43, appeared via videolink from HMP Liverpool for the plea hearing at Liverpool Crown Court.

The former Manchester City, Newcastle United and Rangers midfielder denied causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Kevin Lynch, 51, on 8 March.

His co-defendant, Gary O’Grady, 50, was not asked to enter a plea to the charge.

An earlier court hearing was told the defendants had been drinking with Mr Lynch at Huyton and Prescot Golf Club, Liverpool, before the alleged attack.

Mr Lynch, a former non-league football manager and founder of NexGen Academy, a special education school, was said to have suffered serious injuries to his eye.

Honorary recorder of Liverpool, Judge Andrew Menary KC, set a trial date for 1 September.

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The trial is expected to last seven days.

Barton, who won one England cap, was remanded in custody and the judge renewed conditional bail for O’Grady.

Thomas Tosh, 39, was found guilty of attacking the 23-year-old woman at his home in Drumchapel, Glasgow, while she was intoxicated and incapable of giving consent.

Prosecutors at Scotland’s Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said Tosh collected the victim and her friends from a pub in nearby Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire, in the early hours of 30 September 2023.

After dropping off all of the passengers apart from the woman, Tosh marked the fare as complete and logged out of the taxi’s GPS tracking system.

He then drove in the opposite direction to where he was supposed to take her and instead brought her to his home, where he raped her.

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Two hours later, Tosh logged back in to the tracking system after dropping the woman off at her home.

Tosh was later identified after a friend of the victim showed her a picture of the attacker from social media.

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Prosecutors also used DNA evidence, text messages and witness accounts to secure the conviction.

Tosh was found guilty in February following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.

He was sentenced at the same court on Tuesday, where he was jailed for seven years and had his name added to the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

Tosh was also banned from contacting his victim for 10 years.

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Faye Cook, procurator fiscal for high court sexual offences, said: “This was a despicable betrayal of trust by a man who was responsible for getting a woman home safely after a night out.

“Thomas Tosh deliberately concealed his location as he drove the victim to his home, where he raped her while it was clear she was unable to consent.

“I want to recognise the courage shown by this young woman throughout the prosecution process. Her strength has helped bring a predatory offender to justice.”

The engineer is believed to have designed a programme to access the personal pictures while avoiding internal security checks, court documents show.

The alleged invasion of Facebook users’ privacy is being investigated by a specialist detective from the Metropolitan Police’s cybercrime unit.

Meta has confirmed that the suspected breach was discovered more than a year ago and the company itself referred the matter to police in the UK.

It added that affected Facebook users have been notified, the worker was sacked and it says it has upgraded its security systems.

The engineer under suspicion, who lives in London, is currently on police bail while the criminal investigation continues.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed the investigation, saying: “Protecting user data is our top priority.

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“After discovering improper access by an employee over a year ago, we immediately terminated the individual, notified users, referred the matter to law enforcement and enhanced our security measures.

“We are co-operating with the ongoing investigation.”

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The US star, who now calls himself Ye, has written a letter in which he says he must “show change” – an update to an apology he made in the Wall Street Journal earlier this year.

It follows the huge backlash to Wireless Festival announcing him as headliner for the event in London in July. Several sponsors have pulled out and there have been calls for the government to deny West entry to the UK.

The rapper, 48, has not performed in the UK since his headline slot at Glastonbury in 2015. In the years since then, he has drawn criticism for antisemitic posts on social media, a Super Bowl advert directing people to a swastika T-shirt, and a song referencing Hitler.

“I’ve been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly,” the rapper said. “My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through music.

“I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen. I know words aren’t enough – I’ve have to show change through my actions. If you’re open, I’m here. With Love.”

After days of mounting pressure over the booking, Wireless promoter Festival Republic defended the planned performance in a statement issued on Monday evening.

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Managing director Melvin Benn described West’s previous comments as “abhorrent” but asked “people to reflect … and offer some forgiveness and hope to him as I have decided to do”.

West’s music is also played on commercial radio stations and available to stream “without comment or vitriol from anyone”, Mr Benn also pointed out, adding: “He has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country.”

On Tuesday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News he is “disappointed” that the organisers have booked West, saying they are “too blind” to see the dangers of their decision.

Asked if West should be allowed into the UK to peform, he replied: “That’s a decision for the Home Office and I’m not going to prejudice their decision about this case.

“What I would say is that Kanye West has no business headlining the Wireless Festival. I think organisers showed a terrible error of judgement in inviting him.

“These weren’t a couple of off colour remarks. These were, I think, a pattern of behaviour.”

Mr Streeting said antisemitism and “hatred” against Jewish people in the UK has been rising.

“We’ve seen it manifesting itself not just through online behaviour, verbal abuse, but through physical attacks, including in Heaton Park in Manchester, where people died at the hands of that attack. We saw it more recently with an attack on a charity in north London, a Jewish charity that runs an ambulance service.

“Antisemitism is serious, it can be deadly and people like Kanye West, who have an enormous platform, fame, reach, they have to accept the responsibility that comes with that. And I don’t think he has. I’m only too disappointed the festival organisers are too blind to see it.”

It is understood permission for West to come into the country is currently being reviewed by the Home Office.

Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has backed calls for the government to prevent West from entering the UK and other Jewish groups have also criticised Festival Republic’s support for the star.

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said Mr Benn’s statement would not “reassure many within the Jewish or other communities against whom Kanye West’s invective was directed over a much longer period than his more recent apology”.

He added: “It is time for Wireless to do the decent thing and rescind an invitation they never should have offered. Kanye West may well be on the path to health and healing. We sincerely hope that he is. But the space to test this is not over three days on the Wireless main stage.”

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When he issued his letter apologising in January, West blamed his behaviour on his bipolar-1 disorder, something he said resulted from a car accident 25 years ago.

“I lost touch with reality,” he said. “Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret.”

Wireless announced West as its headliner last week, with the rapper set to top the bill for all three nights of the event. Sponsors including Pepsi and Diageo pulled out at the weekend – and Sir Keir Starmer described the booking as “deeply concerning“.