Irish band Kneecap have apologised to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox after footage emerged of one of its members appearing to say « kill your local MP ».
Footage of the group at a November 2023 gig appears to show one member saying: « The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP. »
Sir David was killed at a constituency surgery in 2021.
Labour MP Ms Cox was fatally shot and stabbed in June 2016.
Speaking to the UK Tonight With Sarah-Jane Mee, Sir David’s daughter Katie Amess said: « I’m more than happy to sit down and speak with them. I’m sure they’ve never met a victim of such a heinous crime, and so they’re not thinking it through.
« If they were to meet with me and to see and to hear the pain and the torture and the torment that I go through every day, I’m sure they would feel terribly guilty.
« And I’m sure that they would apologise, because if not, what kind of people are they? »
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded the prosecution of the rap trio Kneecap after the video emerged.
Downing Street has described the alleged comments as « completely unacceptable ».
Police are investigating – and are also assessing footage reportedly from a gig a year later in London’s Kentish Town Forum.
In the November 2024 video, a member of the band appears to shout « up Hamas, up Hezbollah » – referencing groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: « We were made aware of a video on 22 April, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the counter-terrorism internet referral unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.
« We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023. »
Mrs Badenoch said it was « good » the police were looking into the allegations, adding: « 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. »
Kemi Badenoch. Pic: PA
Ms Amess also welcomed the investigation.
She told Sky News: « I wake up every day with the knowledge that I will never see my father again.
« He will never meet my children. He wasn’t able to be at my wedding. There’s nothing funny about this.
« This is serious, and the government and the police need to take it seriously and to nip this in the bud and stop this kind of rhetoric being tolerated. »
Kneecap, made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, have said they are facing a « co-ordinated smear campaign » after speaking out about « the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people ».
In a statement, Kneecap said: « Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.
« We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action. »
The band added: « To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.
« Kneecap’s message has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. »
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Mrs Badenoch and Kneecap are already known to each other.
The Tory leader blocked a government grant to the bilingual Belfast group while she was business secretary.
But last November, Kneecap won a discrimination challenge over the decision to refuse them a £14,250 funding award after the UK government conceded it was « unlawful ».
Downing Street condemned the alleged comments.
« We do not think individuals expressing those views should be receiving government funding, » the prime minister’s official spokesman said.
Asked if the money should be returned, the spokesman added: « That’s up to the group, but clearly the PM rejects the views expressed … does not shy away from condemning them. »
