‘The balaclava has slipped': DUP leader accuses Kneecap of ‘crocodile tears' over MP comments
The west Belfast rappers have been mired in controversy after footage emerged online appearing to show a band member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP' at a show in November 2023.
Scotland Yard is looking into the incident, along with another concert from November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout 'Up Hamas, up Hezbollah' — groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK.
On Monday night, the band issued an apology for any offence caused to the families of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, both of whom were murdered while serving as MPs.
They said their comments had been 'deliberately taken out of all context'.
'The balaclava has slipped'. Gavin Robinson reacts to Kneecap's MP comments
However, in the Commons on Tuesday, East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson accused the group of 'crocodile tears' over the apology, telling members the group's 'balaclava has slipped'.
"Whilst we have heard over the last 24 hours crocodile tears, confected apologies and whataboutery, nothing can be said that will mask the naked hatred that exists within those individuals for whom their balaclava has slipped,' he said.
"Whilst it is natural that we refer to Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, it is important for members of this house to recognise that there are four plaques in this chamber to Ian Gow, Airey Neave, Robert Bradford and Sir Anthony Berry, all of whom were murdered by the Irish Republican antecedence to Kneecap.'
Mr Robinson also asked Home Office Minister Dan Jarvis for a meeting to discuss the application of laws governing the glorification of terrorism in NI.
"There is a coherency across this United Kingdom on the glorification of terrorism. For far too long an eye has been turned against the glorification of terrorism in Northern Ireland,' said the DUP leader.
"Confined to Northern Ireland, apparently it seems to be quite acceptable and yet it keeps the wounds of our past open. It frustrates reconciliation.
"To my mind, there is not coherency on the application of laws that should be preventing the glorification of terrorism in Northern Ireland.'
Mr Robinson's DUP colleague Sammy Wilson earlier described the band as the 'musical wing of Sinn Féin' and called for police to 'quickly' investigate the comments.
It comes after the husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox hit out at the Kneecap for supporting violence for 'easy cheers' as Downing Street rejects 'half-hearted' apology.
Mrs Cox was killed in 2016 after being shot and stabbed in the street on her way to a constituency surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire.
Her widower Brendan Cox, who founded the Together Coalition and has worked to support survivors of terror attacks, said it was 'good' the group apologised, but rejected their claim that they have been misinterpreted.
'I went back to check whether the 'kill your local MP' comment was taken out of context,' Mr Cox posted on X.
'It wasn't. It's good they have apologised- especially to David (Amess) family- but being 'politically radical' doesn't excuse condoning violence or those who perpetuate it.
'They need to realise that their platform and popularity comes with responsibility. I hope their apology is a genuine realisation that supporting anti-democratic violence is fundamentally wrong in all cases.'
Thomas Mair, who was found to have far-right views was convicted of Mrs Cox's murder and was sentenced to a whole life order. The incident also led to additional security measures for all members of Parliament.
Conservative MP Sir David Amess was also murdered in 2021 after he was stabbed at his during a constituency surgery in Essex by Ali Harbi Ali, a British Islamic State sympathiser, who was sentenced to a whole life order.
A further review of safety measures took place after Mr Amess' death.
His daughter, Katie Amess, told BBC's Good Morning Ulster on Monday that 'it is just beyond belief that human beings would speak like that in this day and age, and it is extremely dangerous.'
TUV leader Jim Allister has also joined calls for Kneecap to be pulled from the Glastonbury Festival line up.
He tabled an Early Day Motion in the Commons condemning the band's 'menacing incitement to murder public servants' and calling for the festival to 'rescind their invitation' for the group to perform.
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In a statement, Kneecap said: '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.
'No smear campaign will change that.'
Minister Caoimhe Archibald: Apology for alleged controversial comments 'a matter for Kneecap'
Kneecap's statement insists the band has been taken out of context, claiming that 'establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria'.
'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,' it continues.
'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.
'This distortion is not only absurd — it is a transparent effort to derail the real conversation.'
Kneecap said the Palestinian population of Gaza was 'currently being starved to death by Israel'.
'At least 20,000 children in Gaza have been killed. The British government continues to supply arms to Israel, even after scores of NHS doctors warned Keir Starmer in August that children were being systematically executed with sniper shots to the head,' they continued.
'Instead of defending innocent people or the principles of international law, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine.
'This is where real anger and outrage should be directed towards.'
Alliance Party MP Sorcha Eastwood tabled a parliamentary motion condemning Kneecap.
In her motion, the Lagan Valley representative said she acknowledged the important role of art in protest, but added that she firmly rejected language that 'incites violence against elected representatives'.
Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said the Prime Minister believed the comments were 'completely unacceptable' and 'condemns them in the strongest possible terms'.
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