Kneecap acting at Glastonbury 'not applicable', PM says

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/8402/live/f368c430-4ed7-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/8402/live/f368c430-4ed7-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8402/live/f368c430-4ed7-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/8402/live/f368c430-4ed7-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/8402/live/f368c430-4ed7-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/8402/live/f368c430-4ed7-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/8402/live/f368c430-4ed7-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8402/live/f368c430-4ed7-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images Kneecap members Mo Chara, Moglai Bap and DJ Provai standing together." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has mentioned he doesn't suppose 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 yr.

In an interview with The Sun , 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 feel we have to come down actually clearly on this.

"That is concerning 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 suppose that is applicable."

BBC Information has approached Glastonbury Competition for remark.

Mr Ó hAnnaidh, charged beneath the identify 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 Social gathering chief Kemi Badenoch mentioned she thought the BBC "shouldn't be exhibiting" Kneecap's efficiency on the competition subsequent week.

Badenoch mentioned in an X submit, which was accompanied by an article from The Instances that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: "The BBC shouldn't be exhibiting Kneecap propaganda.

"One Kneecap band member is presently on bail, charged beneath 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 mentioned because the competition's broadcast companion, it "can be bringing audiences in depth music protection from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the competition organisers".

They added: "While the BBC would not ban artists, our plans will be sure that our programming will meet our editorial tips.

"Choices about our output can be made within the lead-up to the competition."

Badenoch has beforehand known as for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and final yr Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK government in Belfast Excessive Courtroom after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister.

Kneecap took intention at Badenoch of their newest single, The Recap, launched simply earlier than their headline set at London's Large Awake competition in Might, with the track mocking the politician's makes an attempt to dam their arts funding and the Conservative Social gathering's election loss.

On Wednesday, Mr Ó hAnnaidh, who performs beneath the stage identify Mo Chara, was cheered by a whole bunch 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.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/91e3/live/c3415f40-4ed4-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/91e3/live/c3415f40-4ed4-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/91e3/live/c3415f40-4ed4-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/91e3/live/c3415f40-4ed4-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/91e3/live/c3415f40-4ed4-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/91e3/live/c3415f40-4ed4-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/91e3/live/c3415f40-4ed4-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/91e3/live/c3415f40-4ed4-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="PA Media An up close image of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is wearing a scarf and sunglasses. There is a crowd of people behind him. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> PA Media Liam Ó hAnnaidh has been launched on unconditional bail till his subsequent listening to on 20 August.

Following the listening to, the rapper mentioned: "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 Might after Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged, Kneecap mentioned: "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 mild.

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 towards any particular person.

Will the PM's phrases change something?

Evaluation from Charlotte Gallagher, BBC Information correspondent

Will Kneecap care that the Prime Minister would not suppose they need to carry out at Glastonbury?

Most likely not.

If something, it can seemingly improve the trio's profile.

They're promoting out venues, getting tens of millions of streams and being talked about by folks the world over.

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 a whole bunch of individuals outdoors Westminster Magistrates' Courtroom supporting Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh aka Mo Chara earlier this week. Many felt Kneecap have been representing their views whereas politicians weren't listening to them.

Mo Chara is again in courtroom in August - count on comparable crowds.

Who're Kneecap?

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4b5a/live/328570b0-4ed2-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4b5a/live/328570b0-4ed2-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4b5a/live/328570b0-4ed2-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4b5a/live/328570b0-4ed2-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4b5a/live/328570b0-4ed2-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4b5a/live/328570b0-4ed2-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4b5a/live/328570b0-4ed2-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4b5a/live/328570b0-4ed2-11f0-9a43-75d86b6820a6.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="PA Media Kneecap members Moglai Bap, Mo Chara, DJ Provai standing together in front of a red wall. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> PA Media Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who've courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise.