Jo Cox circle of relatives says Kneecap providing ‘half an apology’ over alleged name to kill MPs

Brendan Cox, the husband of the murdered MP Jo Cox, has mentioned the Irish rap trio Kneecap have introduced most effective “half an apology”, after complaint of feedback during which they seem to name for politicians to be killed.

Kneecap apologised to Jo Cox’s circle of relatives and that of the MP David Amess, who used to be additionally murdered, within the face of mounting complaint, together with from Downing Street and Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative chief.

Cox’s remarks come after a video emerged from a November 2023 gig showing to turn a member of the Belfast crew pronouncing: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.” The crew have additionally denied allegations they’ve proven reinforce for Hamas and Hezbollah.

Overnight on Monday, Kneecap – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh – posted an apology on X and advised the condemnation were an “effort to derail the real conversation” about Gaza.

The band have in the past claimed they’re going through a “coordinated smear campaign” after talking out about “the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people”.

“To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt,” they mentioned within the 500-word observation.

They went on: “Establishment figures, desperate to silence us, have combed through hundreds of hours of footage and interviews, extracting a handful of words from months or years ago to manufacture moral hysteria.”

During an pressing query concerning the band within the Commons on Tuesday, the Home Office minister Dan Jarvis prompt the organisers of June’s Glastonbury pageant to “think very carefully” about whether or not Kneecap must carry out there.

During the exchanges, which concerned Mark Francois, the Conservative MP who requested the query, relating to the band as “despicable evil”, Jarvis reputedly agreed with any other Labour MP who advised Kneecap’s track must be got rid of from platforms corresponding to iTunes and Spotify.

Cox advised BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback programme that Kneecap’s most up-to-date observation used to be most effective “half an apology”.

“It’s fine to say that you’re sorry for it, but the way that they have actually spoken about it is to suggest that it’s a conspiracy, that they have been targeted unfairly, and for me, that then doesn’t come across as unfortunately particularly genuine,” he mentioned.

Jo Cox used to be killed in June 2016 by way of a far-right extremist.

Kneecap mentioned of their most up-to-date observation they “do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah”.

They added: “We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever.

“An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action. This distortion is not only absurd – it is a transparent effort to derail the real conversation.”

Keir Starmer’s reputable spokesperson mentioned on Monday the top minister believed the band’s feedback have been “completely unacceptable” and that he “condemns them in the strongest possible terms”.

Katie Amess, whose father, David Amess, used to be murdered by way of an Islamic State enthusiast in his Southend West constituency, mentioned she used to be “gobsmacked at the stupidity of somebody or a group of people being in the public eye and saying such dangerous, violent rhetoric”, and demanded an apology.

On Tuesday, she advised PA Media that the gang’s observation used to be “deflection and excuses and gaslighting”, including that it gave the impression they’d been “badly advised”.

She mentioned: “It was absurd, that’s not an apology. It’s deflection, it is not taking accountability, it’s making excuses.

“They don’t understand what they’re talking about. They obviously aren’t educated enough in what they’re speaking about to think that they can use those excuses and everybody will be like: ‘Oh, never mind, let’s move on to something else.’”

Scotland Yard is reportedly having a look into the alleged name to kill MPs, together with any other live performance from November 2024 during which a member of the band gave the impression to shout: “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah” – teams which are banned as terrorist organisations in the United Kingdom.