Kneecap Glastonbury performance ‘not appropriate’, Starmer says

Getty ImagesPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated he doesn’t assume Kneecap’s deliberate Glastonbury Competition efficiency is “applicable”.He made the feedback after Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh appeared in courtroom charged with a terror offence, referring to allegedly displaying a flag in help of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in November final 12 months.In an interview with The Solar, Sir Keir was requested if he thought the trio ought to carry out at Glastonbury, to which he replied: “No, I do not, and I believe we have to come down actually clearly on this.”That is in regards to the threats that should not be made, I will not say an excessive amount of as a result of there is a courtroom case on, however I do not assume that is applicable.”Mr Ó hAnnaidh, charged below the title Liam O’Hanna, was launched on unconditional bail after Wednesday’s listening to at Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom.The prime minister’s feedback got here after Conservative Celebration chief Kemi Badenoch stated she thought the BBC “shouldn’t be displaying” Kneecap’s efficiency on the pageant subsequent week.Badenoch stated in an X put up, which was accompanied by an article from The Instances that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: “The BBC shouldn’t be displaying Kneecap propaganda.”One Kneecap band member is at present on bail, charged below the Terrorism Act.”As a publicly funded platform, the BBC shouldn’t be rewarding extremism.”Responding to the Tory chief’s feedback, a BBC spokesperson stated because the pageant’s broadcast accomplice, it “might be bringing audiences in depth music protection from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the pageant organisers”.They added: “While the BBC does not ban artists, our plans will be certain that our programming will meet our editorial tips.”Selections about our output might be made within the lead-up to the pageant.”Badenoch has beforehand known as for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and final 12 months Kneecap gained a discrimination case in opposition to the UK authorities in Belfast Excessive Courtroom after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister.Kneecap took purpose at Badenoch of their newest single, The Recap, launched simply earlier than their headline set at London’s Large Awake pageant in Could, with the track mocking the politician’s makes an attempt to dam their arts funding and the Conservative Celebration’s election loss.On Wednesday, Mr Ó hAnnaidh, who performs below the stage title Mo Chara, was cheered by tons of of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom in “Free Mo Chara” T-shirts.The 27-year-old will seem on the identical courtroom for his subsequent listening to on 20 August.PA MediaLiam Ó hAnnaidh has been launched on unconditional bail till his subsequent listening to on 20 August.Following the listening to, the rapper stated: “For anyone going to Glastonbury, you may see us there at 4pm on the Saturday.”If you cannot be there we’ll be on the BBC, if anyone watches the BBC. We’ll be at Wembley in September.”However most significantly: free, free Palestine.”In an announcement, posted on social media in Could after Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged, Kneecap stated: “We deny this ‘offence’ and can vehemently defend ourselves.”The cost got here following a counter-terrorism police investigation after the historic gig footage got here to gentle.Each Hamas and Hezbollah are banned within the UK and it’s a crime to specific help for them.Kneecap say they’ve by no means supported Hamas or Hezbollah and wouldn’t incite violence in opposition to any particular person.Will the PM’s phrases change something?Evaluation from Charlotte Gallagher, BBC Information correspondentWill Kneecap care that the Prime Minister does not assume they need to carry out at Glastonbury? Most likely not. If something, it would doubtless improve the trio’s profile. They’re promoting out venues, getting hundreds of thousands of streams and being talked about by individuals internationally. Calls by politicians and a few celebrities to get Kneecap faraway from line ups appear to have made them extra well-known or notorious – relying in your viewpoint. There have been tons of of individuals outdoors Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom supporting Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh aka Mo Chara earlier this week. Many felt Kneecap had been representing their views whereas politicians weren’t listening to them. Mo Chara is again in courtroom in August – anticipate comparable crowds.Who’re Kneecap?PA MediaKneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who’ve courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise.The group was shaped in 2017 by three pals who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.Their rise to fame impressed a semi-fictionalised movie starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender.The movie gained a British Academy of Movie Award (Bafta) in February 2025.