The daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess has referred to as on Irish band Kneecap to apologise for allegedly telling followers “kill your local MP”.
Footage of the group at a November 2023 gig seems to point out one member saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
Sir David was killed at a constituency surgical procedure in 2021.
Talking to the UK Tonight With Sarah-Jane Mee, Katie Amess stated: “I’m more than happy to sit down and speak with them. I’m sure they’ve never met a victim of such a heinous crime, and so they’re not thinking it through.
“In the event that they have been to satisfy with me and to see and to listen to the ache and the torture and the torment that I’m going by way of day by day, I am positive they’d really feel terribly responsible.
“And I’m sure that they would apologise, because if not, what kind of people are they?”
Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch has demanded the prosecution of the rap trio Kneecap after the video emerged.
Downing Avenue has described the alleged feedback as “completely unacceptable”.
Police are investigating – and are additionally assessing footage reportedly from a gig a yr later in London’s Kentish City Discussion board.
Within the November 2024 video, a member of the band seems to shout “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” – referencing teams that are banned as terrorist organisations within the UK.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman stated: “We were made aware of a video on 22 April, 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 now additionally been made conscious of one other video believed to be from an occasion in November 2023.”
Mrs Badenoch said it was “good” the police were looking into the allegations, 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 homicide of Sir David Amess, this calls for prosecution.”
Picture:
Kemi Badenoch. Pic: PA
Ms Amess additionally welcomed the investigation.
“He will never meet my children. He wasn’t able to be at my wedding. There’s nothing funny about this.
“That is severe, and the federal government and the police must take it significantly and to nip this within the bud and cease this type of rhetoric being tolerated.”
Kneecap, made up of Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, have said they are facing a “co-ordinated smear marketing campaign” after speaking out about “the continued genocide in opposition to the Palestinian folks”.
In a statement Kneecap said: “Allow us to be unequivocal: we don’t, and have by no means, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all assaults on civilians, all the time. It’s by no means okay. We all know this greater than anybody, given our nation’s historical past.
“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.”
The band added: “To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.
“Kneecap’s message has all the time been – and stays – considered one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is the reason our music resonates throughout generations, nations, courses and cultures and has introduced lots of of 1000’s of individuals to our gigs.”
Mrs Badenoch and Kneecap are already identified to one another.
The Tory chief blocked a authorities grant to the bilingual Belfast group whereas she was enterprise secretary.
However final November, Kneecap received a discrimination problem over the choice to refuse them a £14,250 funding award after the UK authorities conceded it was “unlawful”.
Downing Avenue condemned the alleged feedback.
“We do not think individuals expressing those views should be receiving government funding,” the prime minister’s official spokesman stated.
Requested if the cash needs to be returned, the spokesman added: “That’s up to the group, but clearly the PM rejects the views expressed … does not shy away from condemning them.”
