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| Kneecap apologises to families of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Kneecap posted a statement on X on Monday night | |
| Belfast-based rap group Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox. | Belfast-based rap group Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox. |
| The statement posted on X follows the emergence of footage of the group at a concert in November 2023, where one of the band members appears to say: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." | The statement posted on X follows the emergence of footage of the group at a concert in November 2023, where one of the band members appears to say: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP." |
| The footage is being assessed by counter-terrorism police and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for prosecution. | The footage is being assessed by counter-terrorism police and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for prosecution. |
| A spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he did not think "individuals expressing those views should be receiving government funding". | A spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he did not think "individuals expressing those views should be receiving government funding". |
| In a statement, Kneecap said they rejected "any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever." | In a statement, Kneecap said they rejected "any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever." |
| They added that "an extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action". | They added that "an extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action". |
| The trio added: "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt." | The trio added: "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt." |
| Labour MP Jo Cox was fatally shot and stabbed in June 2016. | Labour MP Jo Cox was fatally shot and stabbed in June 2016. |
| Katie Amess says she would be willing to meet the group and have a conversation with them | |
| Earlier, the daughter of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery in 2021 said the rap group should apologise. | Earlier, the daughter of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery in 2021 said the rap group should apologise. |
| Katie Amess said she was "gobsmacked at the stupidity of somebody or a group of people being in the public eye and saying such dangerous, violent rhetoric". | Katie Amess said she was "gobsmacked at the stupidity of somebody or a group of people being in the public eye and saying such dangerous, violent rhetoric". |
| Sir Keir's spokesperson said the PM believed the comments were "completely unacceptable" and there would be no further public funds directed towards Kneecap. | Sir Keir's spokesperson said the PM believed the comments were "completely unacceptable" and there would be no further public funds directed towards Kneecap. |
| Kneecap has previously been given arts funding from the government. Last year, they won a discrimination case against the UK government after it withdrew arts funding for the band, and were awarded £14,250. | Kneecap has previously been given arts funding from the government. Last year, they won a discrimination case against the UK government after it withdrew arts funding for the band, and were awarded £14,250. |
| Sir David Amess was murdered at a constituency surgery in 2021 | Sir David Amess was murdered at a constituency surgery in 2021 |
| 'No support for Hamas or Hezbollah' | 'No support for Hamas or Hezbollah' |
| The Metropolitan Police have said they are also looking at another video, from November last year, where the footage appeared to show a band member shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a performance in London. | The Metropolitan Police have said they are also looking at another video, from November last year, where the footage appeared to show a band member shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a performance in London. |
| In its statement on Monday, the group said: "Let us be unequivocal: We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. | In its statement on Monday, the group 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." | "We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history." |
| Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them. | Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them. |
| Gavin Robinson said Kneecap had become a "hatefest" | Gavin Robinson said Kneecap had become a "hatefest" |
| Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micháel Martin earlier called on the trio to "urgently clarify" their comments. | Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micháel Martin earlier called on the trio to "urgently clarify" their comments. |
| Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson said Kneecap had become a "hatefest". | |
| The East Belfast MP said the band's position was "appalling and outrageous" and said there was a collective political will in London and Dublin to "call out" their comments. | The East Belfast MP said the band's position was "appalling and outrageous" and said there was a collective political will in London and Dublin to "call out" their comments. |
| Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland said that Kneecap's alleged comments crossed a "line from art as a tool of protest and into incitement". | Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland said that Kneecap's alleged comments crossed a "line from art as a tool of protest and into incitement". |
| The first minister of Scotland, John Swinney, backed calls for Kneecap to be axed from Glasgow's TRNSMT music festival this summer, adding that the band's alleged comments had "crossed a line" and were "beyond the pale". | The first minister of Scotland, John Swinney, backed calls for Kneecap to be axed from Glasgow's TRNSMT music festival this summer, adding that the band's alleged comments had "crossed a line" and were "beyond the pale". |
| There was also a call by two MPs for the group to be removed from the Glastonbury Festival line-up in June. | There was also a call by two MPs for the group to be removed from the Glastonbury Festival line-up in June. |
| In a letter to Sir Michael Eavis, a co-creator of the festival, Labour MP David Taylor said it would be "deeply troubling" to see the band performing at the event. | In a letter to Sir Michael Eavis, a co-creator of the festival, Labour MP David Taylor said it would be "deeply troubling" to see the band performing at the event. |
| North Antrim MP and leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) Jim Allister said he had written to organisers of the Glastonbury Festival asking them to drop Kneecap. | North Antrim MP and leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) Jim Allister said he had written to organisers of the Glastonbury Festival asking them to drop Kneecap. |
| The TUV has also written to the US Department of State "to request that Kneecap be denied visas to spread their toxic ideology to America". | |
| A BBC spokesperson said: "As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. | A BBC spokesperson said: "As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. |
| "The Glastonbury broadcast plans will be considered in the coming weeks, and all output will adhere to our editorial guidelines," they added. | "The Glastonbury broadcast plans will be considered in the coming weeks, and all output will adhere to our editorial guidelines," they added. |
| None of the members of Kneecap has been charged with any offences. | None of the members of Kneecap has been charged with any offences. |