22-05-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
More calls for Kneecap to be dropped for Green Man Festival
There have been more calls for the Powys' Green Man festival to drop the controversial rap group Kneecap after one of its members was charged with terror offences.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, 27 who performs under the name Mo Chara, has been charged by the Metropolitan Police after allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig.
Welsh Conservative leader, Darren Millar MS, has demanded answers from the Chair and Managing Director of the Green Man Festival Fiona Stewart over whether the festival will still provide a platform to the group after a letter was sent by Gareth Davies MS.
The trio have been the focus of attention of many Conservative politicians after footage was released of a member saying "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP" which led to Brecon and Radnorshire MS James Evans to call for the group to be dropped at the end of April.
The group rejected "any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual" and apologised to families of assassinated MPs Jo Cox and David Amess.
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A post shared by KNEECAP (@kneecap32)
Kneecap have been outspoken in their opposition to the war in Gaza and have accused the Israeli Government of genocide and the British Government of abetting 'slaughter and famine in Gaza'.
The group have said they just displayed a flag that was thrown on stage and said they would 'vehemently' defend themselves in court.
Yet Mr Millar claims that the festival is being hypocritical after Welsh musician Meic Stevens was dropped from the festival in 2019 after made comments about the number of Muslims in Wales.
"It's completely unacceptable that the Green Man Festival has yet to respond to my colleague's request for Kneecap to be removed from the line-up, their silence speaks volumes, said Mr Millar.
"This is a group that has openly called for the killing of MPs, and now one of its members faces serious terror-related charges linked to a proscribed organisation.
"The festival previously acted swiftly to drop Meic Stevens over anti-Muslim remarks, yet they seem prepared to turn a blind eye in this far more serious case.
"Green Man must be consistent in its values and withdraw Kneecap from the programme immediately. Anything less undermines the festival's credibility and risks endorsing extremism."
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In a statement online Kneecap branded the charges as 'political policing and 'a carnival of distraction' adding that 'We are not the story. Genocide is.'
The group cited the concerns which have been mounting in recent days over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The UN warned this week that 14,000 babies were in danger of starving to death if aid was not let into the strip and the Palestinian Health Authorities have estimated that 53,000 people in Gaza since October 2023.
