Labour MP calls on Glastonbury to drop anti-Israel band Kneecap - The Jewish Chronicle

A Labour MP is calling on Glastonbury to drop controversial Northern Irish band Kneecap after it was referred to counter-terrorism police over one of its member’s alleged voicing of support for Hamas and Hezbollah.

In a letter to the festival’s organisers, Hemel Hempstead MP David Taylor said he had “serious concern regarding the inclusion of the group” alongside mainstream headliners like Neil Young and Charlie XCX.

I've written to @glastonbury urging them to remove Kneecap based on their alleged behaviour and the widely reported footage.

Allegedly calling for the murder of colleagues is abhorrent, I stand in solidarity with MPs from across the House.

Violence has no place in politics. pic.twitter.com/Zn4MhHeTUA
— David Taylor MP (@DavidTaylor85) April 28, 2025

Last week, the JC reported that the Metropolitan Police had referred the trio to its counter-terrorism unit after a video apparently showing one band member shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” during a London gig last November recently surfaced on social media.

And, on Friday, the Daily Mail reported on a clip of one member of the group saying: “kill your local MP” at a concert the year before, adding: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory.”

“If these reports are accurate, the group's actions and statements go beyond the realm of legitimate political expression and into the dangerous territory of inciting violence and promoting extremism, as well as severe antisemitism,” said Taylor.

David Taylor MP (Image: X).[Missing Credit]

“By hosting such a group, Glastonbury Festival risks undermining its proud tradition of promoting peace, unity, and social responsibility. It would be deeply troubling to see the festival provide a platform to individuals who advocate hatred and violence especially at a time when political and social tensions are already high,” he added.

The group’s comments were also condemned by the daughter of Sir David Amess, who was murdered during a constituency surgery by an Islamist terrorist in 2021.

It is just beyond belief that human beings would speak like that in this day and age and it is extremely dangerous," Katie Amess told the BBC.

"To say to kill anybody, what on earth are they thinking?” she said, adding that there were "absolute nutters" who would try on act on the alleged comments.

The band’s comments were similarly condemned by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who demanded that authorities act on their comments about her party’s elected representatives.

Good.

Kneecap’s glorification of terrorism and anti-British hatred has no place in our society.

Now footage shows one of them saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."

After the murder of Sir David Amess, this demands prosecution. https://t.co/hfOxFLvQqS
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) April 28, 2025

“Kneecap’s glorification of terrorism and anti-British hatred has no place in our society. Now footage shows one of them saying ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.’ After the murder of Sir David Amess, this demands prosecution”, she said in a post on X.

It comes after Kneecap caused controversy at American music festival Coachella earlier this month when the group projected the slogan “f*** Israel, free Palestine” above its set and accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians.

Addressing the controversy, the group shared a tweet from another account saying that Israel “owns politicians” and “controls corporate media”.

“What happened at Coachella is Israel's worst nightmare … They're learning that no matter how many politicians they own? [sic] And how much corporate media they control? [sic] They can't wipe out the truth any more. Those days are over”, the post said.

Glastonbury festival and representatives for Kneecap have been contacted for comment.