‘We’re going into a dark place’: Brit awards artists voice alarm over Reform UK’s rise

CMAT, Wolf Alice, Wet Leg, Self Esteem and Loyle Carner say musicians should not shy away from politics – with several warning of ‘scary times’ as the far right gains ground

Artists including CMAT, Wet Leg, Loyle Carner, Wolf Alice and Self Esteem expressed concern about the rise of Reform UK on the Brit awards red carpet, saying artists should feel empowered to be political.

CMAT, nominated for international artist of the year at the ceremony in Manchester, said she was “not a big fan of anyone trying to argue that art is not a political place”.

“Everything is politics. But more than ever, art is politics because you don’t get to make art in a fascist state. Fascism is on the rise in every single country in the world.

“It’s showing its ugly head in Ireland, it’s showing its ugly head all over the UK and don’t even get me started on America.”