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Swinney calls for Kneecap to be axed from TRNSMT festival

Getty Images Three men pose for photos. The one on the right is wearing a dark jacket and a balaclava in the Irish tricolour. The one on the left is also wearing a dark jacket. He has dark hair and is smiling. The one in the middle is wearing a beige coloured jacket with his hood up. He is also smiling. Getty Images
Irish-language band Kneecap are due to perform at TRNSMT festival in July

First Minister John Swinney has backed calls for rap group Kneecap to be axed from Scotland's TRNSMT music festival.

Organisers have been urged to drop the Belfast trio over footage from a 2023 gig that appeared to show a band member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."

Swinney told BBC Scotland the alleged comments "crossed a line" and were unacceptable.

The Scottish Conservatives earlier called for DF Concerts to drop Kneecap from the festival, held from 11 to 13 July on Glasgow Green.

Kneecap have said on social media that they have "faced a co-ordinated smear campaign".

The group has risen to fame with rap songs performed in the Irish language exploring republican themes.

A video from a show in November 2024 also appeared to show a Kneecap band member shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah".

The November 2023 gig footage is being assessed by counter-terrorism police.

None of the members of the group have been charged with any offences.

PA Media General view of TRNSMT music festival. Large crowds gather around the main stage. PA Media
TRNSMT organisers have been urged to remove the band from this summer's line-up

Speaking at a trade union conference in Dundee, Swinney said the alleged comments were "completely and utterly unacceptable".

He told BBC Scotland News: "I think that makes it incredibly difficult for a band like Kneecap to perform at TRNSMT because I think they have crossed a line to be honest.

"It would be unacceptable to perform on such a stage given the fact their comments are so beyond the pale."

'Violent rhetoric'

Scottish Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr told BBC News that he supported freedom of speech, but claimed the alleged comments had "crossed a line" and could be criminal.

Crossbench peer Lord Walney, the UK government's former independent adviser on political violence and disruption, backed demands for Kneecap to be dropped.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Lunchtime Live that alleged comments made on stage by band members were "unconscionable".

The peer urged Glasgow City Council, the Scottish government or UK government to take action if DF Concerts did not remove the group from the bill.

Meanwhile, Katie Amess - the daughter of a Conservative MP who was stabbed to death - said Kneecap should apologise for "dangerous, violent rhetoric".

Sir David Amess was murdered at a constituency surgery in October 2021.

Concerns had been raised by Scottish Conservative MSPs about the Kneecap gig coming the day before anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, when Loyalist parades are held in Glasgow.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We have been working closely with partners and the event organiser over several months to maximise the safety of everyone who is attending TRNSMT."

DF Concerts has been approached for comment.