Jim Allister had today written the following letter to the organisers of the Glastonbury Festival:
Dear Sir / Madam,
Re: Booking of ‘Kneecap’ for Glastonbury Festival
I write as a Member of Parliament for North Antrim and leader of TUV to express deep concern over the decision to host the group “Kneecap” at this year’s Glastonbury Festival.
Kneecap is a group that derives its name from one of the most vicious forms of paramilitary violence used in Northern Ireland — the so-called “kneecapping” of innocent civilians. Their choice of name alone is an affront to the countless victims maimed by terrorist brutality.
However, the concerns go deeper. Kneecap has repeatedly glorified the actions of the Provisional IRA and promoted a narrative that seeks to romanticise a terrorist campaign which caused immense suffering across our United Kingdom.
More recently, this group has been embroiled in fresh controversy — publicly advocating that people should “kill your local Tory MP,” an utterly abhorrent incitement to political violence.
Furthermore, Kneecap has made inflammatory and deeply offensive comments about Israel, during a time when antisemitism and violent rhetoric against the Jewish community are a growing and serious concern.
That Glastonbury would offer a platform to a group which glorifies terrorism, advocates the murder of elected representatives, and engages in inflammatory rhetoric against the State of Israel is nothing short of a disgrace. It stands wholly at odds with the values of tolerance, peace, and inclusivity which your Festival claims to promote.
It is wholly unacceptable for a mainstream, UK-wide cultural event to be seen to endorse — even by implication — messages of political violence and terror glorification.
Accordingly, I call upon you to immediately rescind the invitation to Kneecap to perform at this year’s Festival.
To allow them to proceed would seriously damage the reputation of Glastonbury Festival and cast doubt on its commitment to basic democratic and moral principles.
I trust you will give this matter urgent and serious consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Jim Allister KC MP