MP demands “completely inappropriate” Kneecap removed from Fontaines DC show in Manchester
Labour MP for Bury South, Christian Wakeford, has written to the leader of Manchester City Council in a bid to stop Kneecap from playing with Fontaines DC at Wythenshawe Park on August 15th.
Fontaines DC are set to play their biggest Manchester headline show next month, with Kneecap set to appear as special guests alongside English Teacher and The Murder Capital. Sam Fender is also scheduled to headline Wythenshawe Park on August 16th.
At the weekend, it was reported that Manchester City Council, which runs the park, and promoters are discussing whether Kneecap should be pulled from the line-up.
Now, in a letter addressed to council leader Bev Craig, the MP for Bury South has ramped up the pressure on the local authorities, writing: “I am writing to ask that Kneecap is dropped from the upcoming concerts at Wythenshawe Park, which is owned by Manchester City Council, next month.”
Wakeford then highlighted that “a member of the group was recently charged with a terror offence for allegedly displaying support for a proscribed terrorist organisation.” Mo Chara was charged in May on a terror offence for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert and is next scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on August 20th.
The politician added: “There is also open evidence of the group calling for the murder of MPs, a view completely incompatible with our core British values of democracy, tolerance and respect.” The Metropolitan Police confirmed last month that no action will be taken regarding footage of Mo Chara saying “kill your local MP” at a concert in 2023.
Wakeford, who was formerly an MP for the Conservative Party before switching political parties while in office, continued: “The Prime Minister and other senior politicians from across the spectrum were clear that Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury this year was not appropriate, and that they should not have been allowed to spread their message of hate to tens of thousands of people.”
The Labour politician added: “It is therefore completely inappropriate that Kneecap is allowed a platform in Wythenshawe to amplify such views any further, especially in a region with one of the largest Jewish populations in the country”.
Wakeford then claimed “these concerts will lead to incitement of violence and antisemitic hatred”, which he says is a view supported by the Jewish Representative Council.
The MP concluded by alleging that “the message Kneecap seeks to spread is in direct conflict with those shared values” that Manchester offers.
Earlier this month, Kneecap performed with Fontaines DC at Finsbury Park in London, and no incidents occurred. Far Out, who attended the event, wrote of their set, “What was all the more impressive than a dizzying crowd of all ages, sweating and yelling over one another, was their candid address of activism in the internet age.”
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