CONSERVATIVE leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded the prosecution of rap trio Kneecap for allegedly calling for the death of Tory MPs.
It comes after video emerged of the group at a November 2023 gig which appeared to show one member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
Badenoch said Kneecap’s “anti-British hatred has no place in our society” as she called for them to face action.
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.
Badenoch said it was “good” the police were looking into the allegation, adding: “Kneecap’s glorification of terrorism and anti-British hatred has no place in our society.
“Now footage shows one of them saying: ‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP’.
“After the murder of Sir David Amess, this demands prosecution.”
Conservative MP AMess was stabbed to death while meeting constituents in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in 2021.
Badenoch blocked a government grant to the bilingual Belfast group while she was business secretary on the basis that they "oppose the United Kingdom itself".
But in November last year Kneecap won a discrimination challenge over the decision to refuse them a £14,250 funding award after the UK Government conceded it was “unlawful”.
On Sunday, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a video on April 22, believed to be from an event in November 2024, and it has been referred to the counter terrorism internet referral unit for assessment and to determine whether any further police investigation may be required.
“We have also been made aware of another video believed to be from an event in November 2023.”
He also said the force “are assessing both to determine whether further police investigation is required”.
The counter terrorism internet referral unit (CTIRU) is a national counter terrorism policing unit based within the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command which is dedicated to identifying terrorist and extremist material online.
Police will carry out an investigation if the material breaches the law.
Kneecap, made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, have claimed they are facing a “co-ordinated smear campaign” after speaking out about “the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people”.
What the thousands of young Americans at Coachella think about genocide 👇👏 pic.twitter.com/vczKexZOF9
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) April 27, 2025
They made headlines across the US with performances at the Coachella festival at which they opposed Israel and American support for the nation.
Kneecap’s management has been approached for comment in response to Badenoch’s demand for a prosecution.
