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Kneecap are, of course, free to urge gig-goers to kill Tories – but freedom of speech also involves being prepared to deal with consequences (Listen closely to the Kneecap furore. You’ll hear hypocrisy from all sides, 1 May). While it’s hardly surprising that music biz folk have leapt in to “defend” Kneecap, would they be so eager if it was a group of activists saying: “The only good musician is a dead musician. Kill your local bands now”?
Norman Miller
Brighton
Kneecap’s comments about killing Tory MPs should be condemned. However, conflating these comments, which the band have apologised for, with their condemnation, at Coachella, of Israel’s attack on Gaza seeks to close down the argument regarding Israel’s actions, which many people around the world are appalled by. This is about being able to express moral outrage.
Robert Bennett
Oxford
No one would seriously defend off-the-cuff comments made by Kneecap during a raucous live performance. In 2002, the Guardian reported that the actor John Malkovich named the politician George Galloway and the Middle East correspondent Robert Fisk – saying “I’d rather just shoot them” – for their support for Palestine. Was he cancelled, or even rebuked?
Denis Jackson
Glasgow
I remember the Tory party being happy to accept donations from Frank Hester because he apologised after he said that Diane Abbott “should be shot” (Biggest Tory donor said looking at Diane Abbott makes you ‘want to hate all black women’, 11 March 2024).
Duncan Macgregor
Leeds
