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 referred to as for prosecution.

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

In a press release, Kneecap stated they “reject any suggestion that we’d 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 had 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 demise at a constituency surgical procedure in 2021 stated the rap group ought to apologise.

Katie Amess stated she was “gobsmacked on the stupidity of anyone or a gaggle of individuals being within the public eye and saying such harmful, violent rhetoric”.

The Metropolitan Police have stated they’re additionally taking a look at one other video, from November final yr, 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 stated: “Allow us to be unequivocal: We don’t, and have by no means, supported Hamas or Hezbollah.

“We condemn all assaults on civilians, at all times. 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 help for them.

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

DUP chief Gavin Robinson stated Kneecap had turn into a “hatefest”.

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

Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland stated that Kneecap’s alleged feedback “crosses a line from artwork as a software 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 had 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 stated it will be “deeply troubling” to see the band performing on the occasion.

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

A BBC spokesperson stated: “As the published accomplice, the BBC can be bringing audiences intensive music protection from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the competition organisers.

“The Glastonbury broadcast plans can 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.