MP demands Glastonbury remove Kneecap from line-up
Labour MP David Taylor has written to Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis demanding that Kneecap be removed from the line-up.
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.”
The other clip is from November 2024 at the O2 Kentish Town in London. In it, band member Mo Chara shouts, “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah.”
Now, Taylor, the Labour MP for Hemel Hempstead, has written to Eavis regarding Kneecap’s booking at Glastonbury in 2025: “By hosting such a group, Glastonbury Festival risks undermining its proud tradition of promoting peace, unity and social responsibility. It would be deeply troubling to see the festival provide a platform to individuals who advocate hatred and violence, especially at a time when political and social tensions are already high.”
Taylor continued: “I urge you to reconsider the decision to host Kneecap and remove them from the list of performers. Doing so would send a clear message that Glastonbury stands firmly against violence, terrorism, and political extremism in all its forms.”
- 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
Additionally, Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, wants Kneecap to be removed from the line-up of Glasgow’s TRNSMT.
At the Scottish Trades Union Congress, he said: “The language that you have put to me is completely and utterly unacceptable. There is no way that is acceptable. It’s beyond the pale. I think it makes it incredibly difficult for a band like Kneecap to perform at TRNSMT, because I think they have crossed a line. It would be unacceptable to me for the band to perform on such a stage.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said Kneecap’s remarks in the footage are “completely unacceptable” and “condemns them in the strongest possible terms”.
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.”
The West Belfast trio claims the footage has been “deliberately taken out of all context” and reiterated that the investigation results from a “smear campaign”.
As it stands, Kneecap remain listed to appear on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury and also at TRNSMT in Glasgow.
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