Kneecap Glastonbury performance not appropriate, PM says

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said he does not think Kneecaps planned Glastonbury Festival performance is "appropriate".

Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been in court charged with a terror offence, relating to allegedly displaying a flag at a gig in November in support of Hezbollah which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK.

Asked by the Sun if he thought the trio should perform at Glastonbury, Keir Starmer said: "No, I dont, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this.

"This is about the threats that shouldnt be made, I wont say too much because theres a court case on, but I dont think thats appropriate."

The BBC has approached Glastonbury Festival.

In a post on social media on Saturday evening, Kneecap responded to the prime ministers comments.

The band said: "You know whats not appropriate Keir?!" They then used an expletive to accuse the prime minister of arming a genocide.

Israel has strongly denied allegations of genocide relating to the ongoing war in Gaza.

Mr Ó hAnnaidh, charged under the name Liam OHanna, was released on unconditional bail after Wednesdays hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court.

The prime ministers comments came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said she thought the BBC "should not be showing" Kneecaps performance at the festival next week.

Badenoch said in an X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: "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."

Responding to the Tory leaders comments, a BBC spokesperson said as the festivals broadcast partner, it "will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers".

They added: "Whilst the BBC doesnt ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines.

"Decisions about our output will be made in the lead-up to the festival."

Badenoch has previously called for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK government in Belfast High Court after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister.

Kneecap took aim at Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, released just before their headline set at Londons Wide Awake festival in May, with the song mocking the politicians attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Partys election loss.

On Wednesday, Mr Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates Court in "Free Mo Chara" T-shirts.

The 27-year-old will appear at the same court for his next hearing on 20 August.

Following the hearing, the rapper said: "For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday.

"If you cant be there well be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. Well be at Wembley in September.

"But most importantly: free, free Palestine."

In a statement, posted on social media in May after Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged, Kneecap said: "We deny this offence and will vehemently defend ourselves."

The charge came following a counter-terrorism police investigation after the historical gig footage came to light.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.

Kneecap say they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah and would not incite violence against any individual.

Analysis from Charlotte Gallagher, BBC News correspondent

Will Kneecap care that the Prime Minister doesnt think they should perform at Glastonbury?

Probably not.

If anything, it will likely increase the trios profile.

Theyre selling out venues, getting millions of streams and being talked about by people across the world.

Calls by politicians and some celebrities to get Kneecap removed from line ups seem to have made them more famous or infamous - depending on your viewpoint.

There were hundreds of people outside Westminster Magistrates Court supporting Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh aka Mo Chara earlier this week. Many felt Kneecap were representing their views while politicians were not listening to them.

Mo Chara is back in court in August - expect similar crowds.

Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise.

The group was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.

Their rise to fame inspired a semi-fictionalised film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender.

The film won a British Academy of Film Award (Bafta) in February 2025.