Kneecap apologise to households of Sir David Amess and Jo Cox

Belfast-based Rap group Kneecap have apologised to the households of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox.

The assertion posted on X follows the emergence of footage of the group at a live performance in November 2023, the place one of many band members seems to say: “The one good Tory is a lifeless Tory. Kill your native MP”.

The footage is being assessed by counter-terrorism police and Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch has known as for prosecution.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned he didn’t assume “people expressing these views ought to be receiving authorities funding”.

In a press release, Kneecap mentioned they “reject any suggestion that we might search to incite violence towards any MP or particular person. Ever.”

They added that “an extract of footage, intentionally taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it have been a name to motion”.

The trio added: “To the Amess and Cox households, we ship our heartfelt apologies, we by no means meant to trigger you damage.”

Labour MP Jo Cox was fatally shot and stabbed in June 2016.

Earlier, the daughter of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed to dying at a constituency surgical procedure in 2021 mentioned the rap group ought to apologise.

Katie Amess mentioned she was “gobsmacked on the stupidity of any person or a bunch of individuals being within the public eye and saying such harmful, violent rhetoric”.

The Metropolitan Police have mentioned they’re additionally taking a look at one other video, from November final 12 months, the place the footage appeared to point out a band member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” at a efficiency in London.

In its assertion on Monday, the group mentioned: “Allow us to be unequivocal: We don’t, and have by no means, supported Hamas or Hezbollah.

“We condemn all assaults on civilians, all the time. It’s by no means okay. We all know this greater than anybody, given our nation’s historical past.”

Each Hamas and Hezbollah are banned within the UK and it’s a crime to precise assist for them.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micháel Martin earlier known as on the trio to “urgently make clear” their feedback.

DUP chief Gavin Robinson mentioned Kneecap had change into a “hatefest”.

The East Belfast MP mentioned the band’s place was “appalling and outrageous” and mentioned there was a collective political will in London and Dublin to “name out” their feedback.

Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland mentioned that Kneecap’s alleged feedback “crosses a line from artwork as a device of protest and into incitement”.

The primary minister of Scotland, John Swinney, backed requires Kneecap to be axed from Glasgow’s TRNSMT music competition this summer season, including that the band’s alleged feedback had “crossed a line” and have been “past the pale”.

There was additionally a name by two MPs for the group to be faraway from the Glastonbury Competition line-up in June.

In a letter to Sir Michael Eavis, a co-creator of the competition, Labour MP David Taylor mentioned it could be “deeply troubling” to see the band performing on the occasion.

North Antrim MP and chief of the Conventional Unionist Voice (TUV) Jim Allister mentioned he had written to organisers of the Glastonbury Competition asking them to drop Kneecap.

A BBC spokesperson mentioned: “As the published associate, the BBC shall be bringing audiences in depth music protection from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the competition organisers.

“The Glastonbury broadcast plans shall be thought-about within the coming weeks, and all output will adhere to our editorial pointers,” they added.

Not one of the members of Kneecap has been charged with any offences.