Tory leader Kemi Badenoch says BBC ‘should not show' Kneecap at Glastonbury

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has said she thinks the BBC 'should not be showing' Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury Festival next week.
The 45-year-old made the comments after Kneecap member Liam Og O hAnnaidh appeared in court on Wednesday, after being charged for allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah while saying 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a gig in November last year.
Ms Badenoch said in the X post, which was accompanied by an article from The Times that claimed the BBC had not banned the group: 'The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda.
'One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act.
'As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.'
The Tory leader of the Opposition has previously called for the group to be banned from Glastonbury, and last year Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK Government in Belfast High Court after she tried to refuse them a £14,250 funding award when she was a minister.
Kneecap took aim at Ms Badenoch in their latest single, The Recap, released just before their headline set at London's Wide Awake festival in May, with the song mocking the politician's attempts to block their arts funding and the Conservative Party's election loss.
The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda.
One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act.
As a publicly funded platform the BBC should not be rewarding extremism. pic.twitter.com/KqUGypvO98
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) June 21, 2025
On Wednesday, O hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was cheered by hundreds of supporters as he arrived with bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh at Westminster Magistrates' Court in 'Free Mo Chara' T-shirts.
During the proceedings, the court heard the 27-year-old is 'well within his rights' to voice his opinions on Israel and Palestine, but the alleged incident at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, is a 'wholly different thing'.
O hAnnaidh was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing at the same court on August 20.
Following the hearing, the rapper said: 'For anybody going to Glastonbury, you can see us there at 4pm on the Saturday.
'If you can't be there we'll be on the BBC, if anybody watches the BBC. We'll be at Wembley in September.
'But most importantly: free, free Palestine.'
The charge came after a counter terrorism police investigation after the historical gig footage came to light, which also allegedly shows the group calling for the deaths of MPs.
In April, Kneecap apologised last month to the families of murdered MPs but said footage of the incident had been 'exploited and weaponised'.
In an initial post in response to the charge, Kneecap said: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us.
pic.twitter.com/Yh0oteMTNN
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) May 22, 2025
'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves, this is political policing, this is a carnival of distraction.
'We are not the story, genocide is, as they profit from genocide, they use an 'anti-terror law' against us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A charge not serious enough to even warrant their crown court, instead a court that doesn't have a jury. What's the objective?
'To restrict our ability to travel. To prevent us speaking to young people across the world. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare speak out.
'Instead of defending innocent people, or the principles of international law they claim to uphold, the powerful in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, just as they did in Ireland for centuries. Then, like now, they claim justification.
'The IDF units they arm and fly spy plane missions for are the real terrorists, the whole world can see it.'
Formed in 2017, the group are known for their provocative lyrics in both Irish and English, and merchandise.
Their best-known tracks include Get Your Brits Out, Better Way To Live, featuring Grian Chatten from Fontaines DC, and 3Cag.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'As the broadcast partner, the BBC will be bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers.
'Whilst the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans will ensure that our programming will meet our editorial guidelines. Decisions about our output will be made in the lead up to the festival.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Scottish Sun

an hour ago

• Scottish Sun

JK Rowling praises BBC newsreader Martine Croxall for refusing to say ‘pregnant people' live on air

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AUTHOR JK Rowling has praised BBC newsreader Martine Croxall after she refused to refer to "pregnant people" live on air. The Harry Potter writer, 59, joked that she had a "new favourite BBC presenter" after Martine overruled her autocue which referred to "pregnant people" being at risk during the recent hot weather. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Author JK Rowling has praised BBC newsreader Martine Croxall for overruling her autocue which referred to 'pregnant people' being at risk during hot weather Credit: Getty 4 In the clip from a recent BBC News segment, the veteran broadcaster can be seen smirking at the camera after referring to 'pregnant people' Credit: BBC News 4 Martine then quickly corrects herself, raising an eyebrow and saying 'women' instead Credit: BBC News JK Rowling has been a prominent women's rights campaigner and has often been vocal on what she calls "sex-based rights" for several years. In the clip from a recent BBC News show, Martine introduces comments from new research about the number of heat-related deaths expected during the ongoing hot weather period. However, as she reads along the autocue, she raises an eyebrow and smirks at the camera after having to say "pregnant people" could be at risk in the heat. She then quickly overrides this, saying "women" instead, before moving on with the rest of the script. Martine read: "Malcolm Mistry, who was involved in the research, said the aged, pregnant people - women! - and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions." Reposting the clip on X, JK Rowling praised the BBC presenter, saying she was her "new favourite". It is understood that the term "pregnant people" had been written by the researchers and was being quoted, rather than the BBC having written the phrase. Other commenters also jumped in to praise "brilliant" Martine, with one saying: "I hope you don't get hauled before the BBC News break." In response, Martine joked: "Braced x". Martine has been a veteran broadcaster for the BBC, having first joined the company more than 30 years ago in 1991. USA Gymnastics Reconsiders Trans Athlete Policy Amid Biles-Gaines Feud She then began working for the BBC News team in 2001. This comes just weeks after the same presenter challenged a transgender activist who questioned whether the definition of a woman could be determined by biological sex. While interviewing ex-Labour MSP candidate Heather Herbert, following the Supreme Court's ruling that the term women referred to one's biological sex, Martine found herself in a heated debate. JK Rowling in bitter spat with Boy George as singer calls her 'rich bored bully' over trans rights JK Rowling has blasted Boy George for calling her a 'rich bored bully' – pointing out he once served time for whipping a male escort with a chain. The Harry Potter author posted a furious response on X after the Culture Club singer waded into a spat with another user who claimed Ms Rowling was 'the person maybe most responsible for the push to take away trans rights'. When Ms Rowling asked the X user 'which rights have been taken away from trans people?', Boy George responded: 'The right to be left alone by a rich bored bully!' Ms Rowling posted a lengthy rebuttal in which she accused the Karma Chameleon singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, of sneering at 'unenlightened plebs' who reject the notion that trans women are women. She added: 'I've never been given 15 months for handcuffing a man to a wall and beating him with a chain.' Boy George was jailed in 2009 for handcuffing an escort to his bed and inflicting 'wholly gratuitous violence' at a property in Shoreditch, east London, in April 2007. The court was told that the cocaine-fuelled attack on Audun Carlsen, a Norwegian man, had been 'premeditated and callous' and had left the victim 'traumatised'. Boy George had been found guilty at an earlier trial of false imprisonment and beating Carlsen with a chain with the help of another man, whom he had never identified. Ms Rowling rejected Boy George's claim that she was entitled. During a conversation on clarifying "what the word woman means", Heather declared she felt like she was "under attack" from Martine's questioning. The veteran BBC newsreader countered by questioning how it could be an "attack" when all she was asking for was clarification. She then told Heather that the ruling made it clear "sex is binary and immutable" after the trans activist denied that local authorities - who have not protected single sex spaces based on biological sex - may have to reverse policies as a result of the ruling.

The Sun

an hour ago

• The Sun

JK Rowling praises BBC newsreader Martine Croxall for refusing to say ‘pregnant people' live on air

AUTHOR JK Rowling has praised BBC newsreader Martine Croxall after she refused to refer to "pregnant people" live on air. The Harry Potter writer, 59, joked that she had a "new favourite BBC presenter" after Martine overruled her autocue which referred to "pregnant people" being at risk during the recent hot weather. 4 4 JK Rowling has been a prominent women's rights campaigner and has often been vocal on what she calls "sex-based rights" for several years. In the clip from a recent BBC News show, Martine introduces comments from new research about the number of heat-related deaths expected during the ongoing hot weather period. However, as she reads along the autocue, she raises an eyebrow and smirks at the camera after having to say "pregnant people" could be at risk in the heat. She then quickly overrides this, saying "women" instead, before moving on with the rest of the script. Martine read: "Malcolm Mistry, who was involved in the research, said the aged, pregnant people - women! - and those with pre-existing health conditions need to take precautions." Reposting the clip on X, JK Rowling praised the BBC presenter, saying she was her "new favourite". It is understood that the term "pregnant people" had been written by the researchers and was being quoted, rather than the BBC having written the phrase. Other commenters also jumped in to praise "brilliant" Martine, with one saying: "I hope you don't get hauled before the BBC News break." In response, Martine joked: "Braced x". Martine has been a veteran broadcaster for the BBC, having first joined the company more than 30 years ago in 1991. USA Gymnastics Reconsiders Trans Athlete Policy Amid Biles-Gaines Feud She then began working for the BBC News team in 2001. This comes just weeks after the same presenter challenged a transgender activist who questioned whether the definition of a woman could be determined by biological sex. While interviewing ex-Labour MSP candidate Heather Herbert, following the Supreme Court's ruling that the term women referred to one's biological sex, Martine found herself in a heated debate. JK Rowling in bitter spat with Boy George as singer calls her 'rich bored bully' over trans rights JK Rowling has blasted Boy George for calling her a 'rich bored bully' – pointing out he once served time for whipping a male escort with a chain. The Harry Potter author posted a furious response on X after the Culture Club singer waded into a spat with another user who claimed Ms Rowling was 'the person maybe most responsible for the push to take away trans rights'. When Ms Rowling asked the X user 'which rights have been taken away from trans people?', Boy George responded: 'The right to be left alone by a rich bored bully!' Ms Rowling posted a lengthy rebuttal in which she accused the Karma Chameleon singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, of sneering at 'unenlightened plebs' who reject the notion that trans women are women. She added: 'I've never been given 15 months for handcuffing a man to a wall and beating him with a chain.' Boy George was jailed in 2009 for handcuffing an escort to his bed and inflicting 'wholly gratuitous violence' at a property in Shoreditch, east London, in April 2007. The court was told that the cocaine-fuelled attack on Audun Carlsen, a Norwegian man, had been 'premeditated and callous' and had left the victim 'traumatised'. Boy George had been found guilty at an earlier trial of false imprisonment and beating Carlsen with a chain with the help of another man, whom he had never identified. Ms Rowling rejected Boy George's claim that she was entitled. During a conversation on clarifying "what the word woman means", Heather declared she felt like she was "under attack" from Martine's questioning. The veteran BBC newsreader countered by questioning how it could be an "attack" when all she was asking for was clarification. She then told Heather that the ruling made it clear "sex is binary and immutable" after the trans activist denied that local authorities - who have not protected single sex spaces based on biological sex - may have to reverse policies as a result of the ruling. 4

Times

an hour ago

• Times

‘Glastonbury festival is like Wimbledon — even my dad watches it'

The Glastonbury festival has become as big as Wimbledon and the World Cup on TV, the head of the BBC's coverage has Rothery, who is the BBC's head of popular music for television, said the festival will be getting more coverage on BBC1 than ever this year, as all generations show increased interest in watching extended coverage of the musical acts at Worthy iPlayer viewers will be able to stream continuous coverage of the five main stages at the festival from midday until past midnight on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 'It's a beast,' Rothery said of the festival. 'The interest in Glastonbury has extended over time, with people wanting more [coverage] leading into the festival and more after it. 'It's almost becoming a Glastonbury season now, more akin to a sporting event like Wimbledon or a World Cup. 'Linear TV is still the main go-to for our broad audience. The numbers continue to be really strong, which I think is partly to do with Glastonbury becoming our sort of Wimbledon of music.' Rothery said he puts the increasing interest down to an evolution in the festival's appeal. 'It's gone from the 1990s, when it was a brilliant festival but had a very specific demographic, to now being a very broad church, reflective of everybody,' he said. 'It's multigenerational. Even my dad watches it and he wasn't aware of it ten years ago.' This year BBC1 is scheduling more coverage of Glastonbury than ever before, Rothery said. 'We are also pushing longer sections of sets and even full sets on linear TV, whereas we used to be more highlights and bitesize bits of sets.'That is a big shift. There is a confidence that we can put a full set out and it will sustain a good audience.' Rothery said in recent years they had been getting 'millions' watching the live streams of the five main stages on each day of the festival. He said ways of reaching a younger demographic — which all broadcasters are chasing as they compete against the likes of YouTube and TikTok — have changed now that younger people consume music differently through sites such as Spotify, where the whole history of popular music sits in one place. 'In the old days, to reach a young audience we would normally want to put a young pop star on a stage to reach that demographic,' he said. 'That has totally changed. My 15-year-old daughter is a massive Billy Joel fan and loves The Clash. Audiences don't know or care how long these songs have been around, they are just great songs. 'Elton John [in 2023] gave us a massive young audience share and one of the youngest of the festival.' Deploying a drone shot at Glastonbury to show the audience the full scale of the record crowd for Elton's closing headline slot, the final show of his touring career, was a highlight for Rothery. Asked what makes a great Glastonbury festival TV moment, he said: 'Some of it is pre-planned, like having the surprise sets that the festival organises, to create those moments of excitement and intrigue, and sometimes it might just be great timing of an act being on. 'I have vivid memories of LCD Soundsystem playing All My Friends and seeing the sun setting, that was a special moment that only Glastonbury can do. 'Jay Z doing Wonderwall was a huge moment, or when Dave [the grime artist] got the guy out of the audience to do a rap, the audience had no expectation of that. 'Sometimes it's the audience's appreciation of the artist. When Dolly Parton did the legends slot, her reaction to seeing the audience know every word to Jolene, in cowboy hats, took her by such surprise and made it really special. 'When Brian Wilson did it, there were surfboards in the audience. It's the lengths Glastonbury people go to show their appreciation. 'It's a magic combo of things that cannot always be pre-planned.'