Labour minister refuses to name Kneecap in parliament: “My advice is not to give them any further publicity”
Minister of State for Security, Dan Jarvis MP, refused to name Irish trio Kneecap in parliament when asked whether they should be banned from performing at Glastonbury Festival.
The Belfast trio are currently under investigation by counter-terrorism police after footage emerged of two Kneecap concerts on social media. In one, reportedly from a gig in November 2023, they seemingly can be heard saying, “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” In the other, which took place at the O2 Kentish Town in London last November, band member Mo Chara shouts, “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.”
Now, they have faced scrutiny from politicians who are lobbying for Kneecap to be removed from the Glastonbury Festival. The Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, David Taylor, wrote to Michael Eavis regarding Kneecap’s booking at Glastonbury in 2025, and Tory MP Mark Francois asked the same question in parliament on April 29th.
Francois said: “So does the Home Secretary agree it would be unconscionable for Kneecap to appear, at least whilst the police inquiry is underway? Kneecap should surely be barred today, to be crystal clear, does the Government agree with that or not? Kneecap have now offered a crocodile tears apology to Katie Amess, haven’t that family been through enough already?”
The Conservative politician continued: “So as it’s within the Home Secretary’s gift, will she now seriously reconsider their request to examine potential failures by Prevent, which may have contributed to David’s death via the auspices of the Southport inquiry? Isn’t that the least we could do?”
- Kneecap apologise to families of two murdered MPs and condemn terrorist groups
- Tory leader Kemi Badenoch “demands prosecution” of Kneecap
- Kneecap “taking action” against “coordinated smear campaign” amid Coachella controversy
Jarvis answered on behalf of the Home Secretary, stating, “It is not for Government ministers to say who is going to appear at Glastonbury, it’s for the organisers of the festival. But there is, as I have said, an ongoing live police investigation, so the Government would urge the organisers at the Glastonbury Festival to think very carefully about who is invited to perform there later this year.”
The Labour MP also said he wouldn’t “interfere with what is a live police investigation”, before insisting “the safety and security of members of this House and all those who serve in elected office is an issue to which I attach the utmost seriousness.”
Jarvis also explained why he refused to mention Kneecap by name, adding, “It’s for [MPs] to choose what language they would use but my advice is not to give them any further publicity by naming them. I won’t be naming them and I would suggest that other members don’t either.”
He also said “individuals expressing the views that we’ve heard should be receiving taxpayer funding” and claimed this is a “non controversial thing to say”.
Kneecap have since issued an apology to the families of murdered MPs David Amess and Jo Cox, who died in 2021 and 2016, respectively. They also said: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.”
They also claimed the footage had been “deliberately taken out of all context” and reiterated that the ongoing police investigation resulted from a “smear campaign”.
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.