Moment Irish rappers Kneecap tell cheering concert-goers to ‘kill your local MP’ and shout ‘the only good Tory is a dead Tory’ – as band face terror probe over ‘pro Hamas’ chants

Irish Republican band Kneecap which is being investigated by counter-terrorism police over pro-Hamas chants urged its fans to ‘kill your local MP’ at a concert in London.

Video footage has emerged of the rap group telling a jeering audience ‘the only good Tory is a dead Tory’ while performing at a gig in Electric Ballroom in London.

In the video a member of the Northern Irish band – which is set to play at Glastonbury later this year – said: ‘We’re still under British occupation in Ireland.

‘We still have old men in London making decisions that affect my life in Ireland.

‘And even worse, they’re f***ing Tories.

‘The only good Tory is a dead Tory.

‘Kill your local MP.’

Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Robert Jenrick told the Daily Mail: ‘The police should be investigating Kneecap immediately for potential terrorism offences and inciting violence.

‘If a band were to glorify a proscribed far-right group, action would have been taken. It’s inexplicable discrepancies like this that create the perception of two-tier policing.’

The bands remarks – which were made in November 2023 – are amongst a series of controversial comments the group has made during performances.

Videos emerged in recent days of a Kneecap gig at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London in November 2024 where one of the band members appeared to shout ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah’, and was draped in the Hezbollah flag. There was also a chant of ‘ooh ahh Hezbollah’

DJ Provai from Irish Hip Hop trio Kneecap performs onstage during the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club on April 11, 2025

Over Easter weekend Kneecap projected the slogans ‘Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinain people’ and ‘F*** Israel, Free Palestine’ while performing at the Coachella music festival in California – prompting outrage.

 Over Easter weekend Kneecap projected the slogans ‘Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinain people’ and ‘F*** Israel, Free Palestine’ while performing at the Coachella music festival in California – prompting outrage.

Former X-Factor judge Sharon Osbourne called for the band to have their right to work in the US revoked in the aftermath of their Coachella performance.

Footage also emerged earlier this week from a gig last year during which one member appears to shout ‘Up Hamas, up Hezbollah’ while draped in the terror group’s flag.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah are proscribed organisations meaning it is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 ‘to invite support’ for them.

The Metropolitan Police has since referred the footage of Kneecap to a counter-terrorism unit to assess whether the material breaks UK terrorism laws.

A Met spokesman said: ‘We have been made aware of the video today (April 22) 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.’

At other gigs the band has led chants mocking Margaret Thatcher’s death and repeating the phrase ‘Brits out’.

Footage of Kneecap performing at a gig in Electric Ballroom in London in November 2023.

A jeering audience watches as Kneecap shouts ‘the only good Tory is a dead Tory’.

Pictures inside the venue as Kneecap shouts ‘kill your local MP’

Intimidation and threats to MPs have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels.

In recent years, there have been multiple instances of people prosecuted and, in some cases jailed, for making threats to MPs across the political spectrum, according to the Institute for Government.

These have included death and rape threats sent to MPs via email and social media, as well as plots to murder MPs.

Many MPs have publicly spoken about their experiences and the security measures they have had to take, which have included installing panic rooms; carrying panic alarms; changing their routes to and from their office; and installing bomb-proof letterboxes.

Tragically, in October 2021 Conservative MP for Southend West Sir David Amess was stabbed to death while attending his constituency surgery.

In 2021 Conservative MP for Southend West Sir David Amess was stabbed to death while attending his constituency surgery.

Meanwhile In 2016 Labour MP Jo Cox was fatally shot and stabbed by a neo-Nazi outside a library in Birstall, West Yorkshire, where she was about to hold a constituency surgery.

A spokesperson for CST added: ‘Over the past decade, two serving Members of Parliament have been murdered by violent extremists. 

‘For a member of Kneecap to have told an audience to ‘kill your local MP’ goes way beyond simply being edgy or anti-establishment. 

‘Considered alongside recent footage which appears to show open support for Hamas and Hezbollah, it’s a worrying pattern of behaviour that needs to be addressed and calls into question their suitability to be provided a platform at music festivals and public venues.’

Labour MP Luke Akehurst said: ‘These comments are a disgusting incitement to violence. 

‘Use of violent language about politicians of any party damages democracy and is particularly sickening given the murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.’

Formed in Belfast in the 2010s, Kneecap, named themselves after the notorious IRA punishment of shooting enemies in the kneecap.

The band is made up of three members: Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, whose stage name is Mo Chara, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, who raps under the name Móglaí Bap, and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh, who uses the stage name DJ Próvaí.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘Kneecap’s onstage antics aren’t just childish — they’re reckless and incendiary. 

‘Footage from a previous performance appears to show band members shouting ‘Up Hamas, up Hezbollah’ and displaying the Hezbollah flag. 

‘This is the emblem of a terrorist group committed to the extermination of Jews. This rhetoric and conduct goes well beyond performance art. 

‘We are writing to Glastonbury and other festivals to demand that Kneecap be dropped from their line-ups. 

‘Any venue that hosts them risks sending a message that hate has a place on the stage, and that Jews are not welcome. 

‘We have reported Kneecap to Counter Terrorism Police and instructed our lawyers to prepare for a private prosecution if necessary.’

Alex Hearn from Labour Against Antisemitism said: ‘Kneecap have shown support for proscribed terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah — who want to eliminate every Jew on the planet.’

Kneecap and Glastonbury have been contacted for comment.