Glasgow politicians question decision to axe rappers Kneecap from TRNSMT
"Who exactly is threatening them? Israel? Supporters of genocide? Anti Irish protesters? Who exactly? This is an extremely worrying decision."
Glasgow politicians have questioned the decision to axe Irish language rappers Kneecap from TRNSMT.
The Belfast trio announced they have been removed from the music festival in Glasgow over police concerns about safety on Wednesday.
It led to them revealing a replacement gig "to try to make up for it" at the O2 Academy in July, which has seen a pre sale sell out in 80 seconds.
Glasgow Greens co-leader Jon Molyneux has questioned Police Scotland's position on TRNSMT and pointed out they routinely manage "major events."
He said: "The police position on this is deeply questionable. We are talking about one band, playing for around 45 minutes, in six weeks' time, in a secure, ticketed, bag-searched environment.
It stretches credibility to claim that this presents an insurmountable operational problem when the police routinely manage major events and demonstrations in the city.
"In all of this one thing matters more than anything and that's that Kneecap isn't the story. The genocide and humanitarian crisis in Gaza is the story and we all have a duty to speak out on that."
Glasgow Cathcart SNP MSP James Dornan said: "I'm truly concerned by the police statement that Kneecap should not play at TRNSMT because they can't guarantee their safety. Who exactly is threatening them? Israel? Supporters of genocide? Anti Irish protesters? Who exactly? This is an extremely worrying decision."
Controversy over the gig had been growing with First Minister John Swinney calling for the performers to be dropped from the line-up. Glasgow SNP and Scottish Greens councillors were not in favour of the group being axed from TRNSMT.
The artists attracted criticism after footage emerged from 2023 appearing to show one of them saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
A member of the group has also been charged with a terror offence after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig.
TRNSMT promoters DF Concerts said Kneecap would not perform on July 11 due to concerns expressed by the police about safety.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Any decision on the line up at TRNSMT is for the organisers and there was no prior consultation with Police Scotland before acts were booked.
"Officers have highlighted the potential reaction of such a large audience to this band would require a significant policing operation in order to support the delivery of a safe event.
"We have also passed on information from the public around safety concerns to allow organisers to make an informed decision on the running of the festival."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
an hour ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Dismayed by Gerry Adams' libel victory in a Dublin court, BBC now considering geoblocking Republic
Inside the BBC, Gerry Adams's libel victory in Dublin's High Court immediately prompted radical thinking. Few in the Republic yet realise that the most profound implications of this case could be borne not by British licence fee payers, but by the Irish public. From the BBC's perspective, the jury's decision was little short of disastrous. Across the corporation, figures in both editorial and management positions had been steeling themselves for what they feared might come. They knew that a jury — something virtually abolished in Britain long ago — was a lottery.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
SNP criticise Labour's plans to increase UK's defence spending
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously outlined that a 3% spend on defence by 2034 is an 'ambitious' target, a view reportedly still held by some senior Whitehall officials. However, John Healey has said it is now a certainty. The Defence Secretary's comments mean the Labour Government would be committed to spending more than £10 billion extra on defence every year, despite criticism over proposed cuts to public services. In February, Starmer announced that the UK would increase spending on defence up to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, raiding the international development budget, in a move which was branded by the Scottish Government as 'deeply disappointing'. READ MORE: Scottish minister hits back at Defence Secretary 'student union politics' jibe The SNP MP Dave Doogan said Labour are 'unable to read the room' following Healey's comments that the UK Government will spend 3% of GDP on defence by the next parliament. Doogan (below), the SNP's defence spokesperson at Westminster, said: '3% by 2034 shows how broke the UK is - this is a decade after Labour have taken power. (Image: House of Commons) 'Lead times for new equipment and systems will add further delay to Labour's tardy defence timescales. 'This 'jam tomorrow' defence posture won't fix crumbling defence housing or the lamentable recruitment and retention crisis." He added: 'Ballooning nuclear enterprise costs, so high now the government has delayed issuing the new rolling ten year cost of Trident, will consume much of any new defence cash. 'We are firmly in an era of increasingly contested global ambition and global instability where some traditional allies seem increasingly at odds with European values and ambitions and Labour are unwilling or unable to read the room.' The UK Government's 10-year defence plan on Britain's defence spending, which is due to be announced on Monday, was reportedly due to be published during VE Day week earlier this month but had been delayed because of rows with the Treasury. One source told The Times there had been 'discontent that the Ministry of Defence is using it to push for more defence spending'. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has estimated that reaching 3% of GDP by the next parliament would cost the UK an additional £17.3bn in 2029-30. Doogan's comments come after Healey (below) said Labour's plans to increase military spending are sending a 'message to Moscow'. The UK Government pledged £1.5bn to set up at least six factories and said it would support the procurement of up to 7000 UK-built long-range weapons in response to the strategic defence review (SDR), which is to be published on Monday. The new funding will see UK munitions spending hit £6bn during this parliament, with Starmer calling the review a 'radical blueprint'. The Prime Minister also pledged a 'wave of investments' in shipbuilding, drone technology and cyber defences. Healey said the £6bn of investment would 'equip our forces for the future' and 'create jobs in every part of the UK'. 'This is a message to Moscow as well," he told the BBC's Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg programme. "This is Britain standing behind, making our armed forces stronger but making our industrial base stronger, and this is part of our readiness to fight, if required. Healey added that Russia is 'attacking the UK daily' as part of some 90,000 cyber attacks from state-linked sources that were directed at the UK's defence over the last two years.
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Letter: Powys MS tries to hard to rubbish our Lib Dem MP
Methinks Tory MS James Evans doth protest too much in his efforts to rubbish our elected parliamentary MP for Brecon and Radnor along with Cwm Tawe which Mr Evans seems to have missed (some mistake here, surely?). I know David Chadwick to be a worthy successor to those who worked tirelessly before him, on behalf of the Liberal Democrats and in the interests of their constituents – namely Richard Lives, Roger Williams, Kirsty Williams and Jane Dodds. Like his predecessors David Chadwick has the concerns of those he represents at the heart of what he does. He continuously demands answers from Central Government on health, education, rural transport, local banking and, first and foremost, agriculture and the rural economy.
