Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox, following a political outcry in response to gig footage of the band.
During a performance in 2023, one of the band members appears to tell the audience: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
In a statement, Kneecap said they rejected "any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever."
The group added: "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt."
Counter-terrorism police are assessing the video. The Metropolitan Police are also looking at a video from November 2024, where the footage appeared to show a member of Kneecap shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" at a performance in London.
Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a criminal offence to express support for them.
In their statement, Kneecap said "an extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action".
There has been widespread political condemnation of the group. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch – who previously blocked MEGS export funding for the group because of their political views – has called for Kneecap to be prosecuted.
Last year the group won a discrimination case against the government and were awarded £14,250 – equivalent to the amount of MEGS funding that had been blocked. The Labour government did not contest the legal claim.
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said the Prime Minister believed their comments were "completely unacceptable" and there would be no further public funds given to Kneecap.
Kneecap’s apology follows calls from politicians, including Badenoch, for the group to be withdrawn from the Glastonbury line-up.
Promoter FKP Scorpio has cancelled the band’s scheduled performances at its twin German festivals Hurricane and Southside this summer.
Photo credit: Peadar Ó Goill
