Kneecap’s Glastonbury booking draws fire from Prime Minister and Tory leader amid terror charge against one band member, fuelling a political storm over free speech, extremism, and public broadcasting.
The decision to include Belfast-based rap group Kneecap in this year’s Glastonbury Festival lineup has sparked fresh political controversy, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling their upcoming appearance “not appropriate” due to one band member currently facing a terrorism charge.
The rapper in question, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh — known on stage as Mo Chara — has been charged under the Terrorism Act for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a group proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK. The alleged incident took place during a performance in November last year. The 27-year-old was released on unconditional bail and is due to appear again at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 20 August.
Asked about the trio’s upcoming Glastonbury performance, Starmer said he did not support their appearance at the iconic music festival. “We need to come down really clearly on this,” he told The Sun, referring to the ongoing criminal case. While avoiding detailed commentary due to the legal proceedings, he stated that the band’s performance was not appropriate under the circumstances.
The BBC, which will broadcast select acts from the festival as its official media partner, has also come under scrutiny over its potential coverage of Kneecap’s set. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has been particularly vocal, urging the broadcaster not to air the group’s performance.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Badenoch reiterated her opposition: “The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act. As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.”
The controversy over Kneecap’s slot on the Glastonbury stage is the latest chapter in an ongoing political and cultural clash between the group and UK government figures. Last year, Badenoch, then serving as Equalities Minister, attempted to block a public arts grant of £14,250 to the group. That move was later overturned in the Belfast High Court, with the court ruling in Kneecap’s favour in a discrimination case.
Kneecap have built a reputation for provocative political commentary, often combining Irish language lyrics with anti-establishment themes. Their performances frequently feature explicit critiques of British government policies, especially concerning Northern Ireland and the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Responding to the prime minister’s comments over the weekend, the group took to social media to fire back. In a post, Kneecap accused Starmer of hypocrisy, stating: “You know what’s ‘not appropriate’ Keir?!” — followed by an expletive-laden accusation that the prime minister had aided a genocide, referencing the UK’s military ties with Israel.
While Israel has repeatedly rejected allegations of genocide in relation to its ongoing military campaign in Gaza, the issue remains a polarising topic in British political and cultural spheres. Kneecap have previously expressed solidarity with Palestine in public statements and performances but deny any support for groups like Hamas or Hezbollah, both of which are banned in the UK.
A BBC spokesperson, responding to the calls to remove Kneecap from the airwaves, emphasised that programming decisions remain guided by editorial standards. “As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers,” the spokesperson said. “Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists, our plans will ensure our programming meets our editorial guidelines.”
Kneecap’s confrontational style has seen them become something of a lightning rod in the UK’s culture wars. Their recent single The Recap, released ahead of their headline appearance at London’s Wide Awake festival in May, directly mocked Badenoch and the Conservative Party’s election performance. The track followed their High Court victory over the minister’s attempt to block their public funding.
Ó hAnnaidh’s court appearance last Wednesday drew considerable support from fans, with hundreds gathering outside the courthouse wearing “Free Mo Chara” T-shirts. Following the hearing, he told supporters they would be performing at Glastonbury on the Saturday at 4pm and hinted at a forthcoming show at Wembley in September. He closed his remarks with a pointed political statement: “But most importantly: free, free Palestine.”
The Glastonbury organisers have yet to comment on the controversy, and the BBC has not confirmed whether Kneecap’s performance will be included in its broadcast coverage.
Despite the backlash, Kneecap maintain that they have never endorsed violence or supported proscribed organisations. In a statement released following Ó hAnnaidh’s charge, the band said: “We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves.”
The outcome of the trial, and whether it affects their broader platform, remains to be seen — but for now, Kneecap continue to divide opinion both in politics and popular culture.
