Irish hip-hop group Kneecap have publicly reacted to Keir Starmer's resignation as leader of the Labour Party, an announcement made on Monday, June 22. Starmer, addressing the press outside 10 Downing Street, stated his belief that he had 'proved those people wrong' who claimed the party was 'finished' during his tenure as Prime Minister. He highlighted efforts to 'rip out the poison of anti-Semitism' and 'restore trust in the economy, defence and national security' as key achievements.
Kneecap's response to the news was shared on social media, bidding Starmer 'Slàn Keir' – a Gaelic farewell. Their post featured footage from their 2025 Glastonbury performance where they led a chant of 'Fuck Keir Starmer', juxtaposed with clips of Starmer himself criticising the band. The group's long-standing tension with Starmer largely stems from their vocal support for Palestine, which prompted Starmer to push for their removal from the Glastonbury festival bill.
Despite these calls, Kneecap's set at Worthy Farm proceeded as planned, where they used their platform to directly address the then-Prime Minister. The band's social media video concluding their reaction further attacked Starmer regarding his stance on the conflict in Gaza, describing him as 'Netanyahu’s bitch' and a 'genocide armer'. This follows previous strong criticism from Kneecap, including on their album 'Fenian', where the single 'Liar's Tale' referred to Starmer as a 'scumbag' for his involvement in arming Israel.
The friction between the band and Starmer intensified after a High Court dismissal of a terror charge against Kneecap member Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh). The charge related to allegations of displaying a Hezbollah flag and shouting 'Up Hamas, up Hezbollah' at a London gig in November 2024. The band consistently denied supporting either organisation, maintaining that footage was taken out of context. Starmer had previously called Kneecap 'completely intolerable' and expressed his desire for the Crown Prosecution Service to 'very carefully' examine the decision to throw out the charges.
Starmer himself had previously defended his position against Kneecap, telling NME that he did not support 'inciting violence as free speech' and believed the band 'shouldn’t be performing at Glastonbury'. He differentiated between discussing important issues freely and inciting violence. This ongoing public dispute highlights the intersection of politics, music, and freedom of expression within the UK cultural landscape.
Nominations for a new Labour Party leader are set to open on July 9 and conclude by the summer recess on July 16. This timeline suggests that a new leader could be in place by September 1, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham currently considered a strong contender for the role. The leadership contest will undoubtedly bring further political discourse and scrutiny, particularly regarding foreign policy and cultural expression.
Source: NME