ALBA party leader Kenny MacAskill has come out in defence of the rap trio Kneecap after a video emerged of a band member allegedly saying “kill your local MP”.
MacAskill, a former Scottish justice secretary, insisted there had been a “kneejerk reaction” to Kneecap’s comments, adding that calls to have them banned from the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow are “utterly pointless”.
He claimed on the BBC’s Scotcast the band are being targeted for being outspoken on the actions of Israel in Gaza and what they said on stage in November 2023 was a “throwaway comment”.
A video emerged from a November 2023 gig, appearing to show a member of the group saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”
John Swinney said Kneecap should be cut from the TRNSMT line-up on the back of the comments, saying they had “crossed a line”.
But MacAskill said the reaction to the clip had been “ludicrous”.
He said: “I think it’s a kneejerk reaction to Kneecap, I think it’s utterly pointless.
“The band have issued an apology for what was a throwaway remark some two years ago taken entirely out of context.
“There was a time when I grew up when people were calling for the banning of the Beatles because of things they had said relating themselves to being bigger than Jesus Christ or whatever. We’ve moved on from there, they’ve apologised for it, said it wasn’t to be taken in the context that had been put forward, so let them get on with it.
“This is just ludicrous.”
MacAskill said the “real wrong” was the actions of Israel in carrying out a genocide in Gaza, which Kneecap has consistently called out.
“People seem outraged about Kneecap having mentioned that throwaway line and yet Britain is facilitating genocide in Gaza, kids are dying by the score on a daily basis.
“I think I know where the real wrong is and the real wrong is what is being perpetrated by Israel, not a remark by the band Kneecap several years ago.”
When it was suggested to him there are other views on what is happening in Gaza, MacAskill criticised the BBC’s coverage of Israel's assault on the enclave.
He said: “There are not alternatives to what is going on in Gaza. Let’s be clear, there is a genocide in Gaza, that is fully accepted and documented.
“That is why the BBC has been getting into disrepute with its failure to call out Israel’s action and the reason Kneecap is getting focus now is because they have been outspoken, they are capturing a generation of young people who are also appalled at a genocide that is taking place within their lifetime.
“So this is about closing down arguments about actions of Israel. Nothing to do with the throwaway remark.”
In a statement posted on X, the Belfast group – Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh – said they “reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual.
The band said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah and condemned all attacks on civilians, apologising to the families of murdered MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, saying “we never intended to cause you hurt”.
They said a video extract had been deliberately taken out of context and was being “exploited and weaponised”.
The band’s gig at the Eden Project scheduled for July has been cancelled following the emergence of the footage.
