Chvrches interview: Lauren Mayberry tells Boris - 'Check your facts before you slap them on the side of a bus'

Bands have been using Glastonbury as a platform to air their views on Brexit

Chvrches play the Other Stage at Glastonbury on Saturday 25 June (Danny Clinch)

Normally, Glastonbury Festival is an encapsulated bubble, blissfully unaware of the goings on of the world. This year was different, the EU referendum result severely impacting many revellers' moods, for both good and bad.

On the day after the Brexit result, performers CHVRCHES sat down with The Independent to discuss their slot on the Other Stage. Soon, discussion turned to the referendum.

“It's hard to hide my disappointment,” said Martin Doherty. “It's a victory for ignorance and extreme opinions and I'm pretty depressed about it, especially when Scotland voted unanimously to remain.”

When asked whether they believe Scotland will vote to leave the UK if they hold another referendum, he added “I think it's undeniable,” with singer Lauren Mayberry agreeing.

She explained: “One of the things that was used to support the No campaign was that if we became an independent nation, the economy wouldn't be stable and we'd be kicked out of the European Union. Now we've stayed, and both of those things have come to pass.

“I understand there are lots of people in the UK who are incredibly unsatisfied and don't feel like anyone's supporting them and don't feel they're being listened to. In my mind if that was a reason for voting Leave that doesn't make any sense.

“From what I can tell, it's an opinion that is based on fear of terrorism, of refugees, of otherness. It's creating an environment that is going to foster hatred and xenophobia and that's not a nation I want anything to do with.

“We have a lot of amazing English friends who don't feel that way, so I can't imagine how hard it would be for those people to live in England and have Northern Ireland and Scotland looking in on them and saying 'Why did you vote leave?' There are so many people in England who didn't. It just shows first past the post isn't a representative system.”

The discussion turned to those Londoners who want to stay in the EU, Mayberry saying of former London Mayor Boris Johnson: “What's his f**king problem? Check your facts before you slap them on the side of a bus, Boris. Make sure that your maths is right before you put them on a bus and tell people how you should make insane, life changing decisions.

“I think the media, and there's parallels between how the U.S. and UK are covering these things, should accept responsibility for putting out agendas without checking their facts.”

Doherty adds: “It's the death of facts, in terms of political campaigns. And people will go with whatever you put in front of them by the media in this country. I think it's disgusting.”

The group also discussed Glastonbury, their second album and how their song-writing process works. They play the Other Stage at 8.45pm.