Glastonbury 2025: Lisa Nandy calls for Kneecap ban and claims band “thrive on the oxygen of publicity”

Posted On June 26, 2025June 26, 2025

Lisa Nandy MP, the UK Culture Secretary, has joined the likes of Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch by calling for Glastonbury Festival to ban Kneecap amid the ongoing terror charge.

Kneecap member Mo Chara appeared at the Magistrates Court on 18th June after videos from a 2024 concert show him displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. He can also be heard shouting, “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, and has made anti-Government comments at shows such as “kill your local MP.” Far Out attended the pro-Kneecap, pro-Palestine protest outside the court, at which Chara received unconditional bail.

Now, Nandy, the Culture Secretary, has weighed in on the matter. Speaking on BBC Politics Live on June 25th, she said, “Personally, I don’t want to see that on TV screens,” when questioned about Kneecap’s Glastonbury set.

Nandy also insisted that “it is an independent matter for the BBC,” but still agrees with Prime Minister Starmer “very strongly,” whose view is that Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance should not go ahead.

Nandy continued: “This is a band that has thrived on the oxygen of publicity. And as well as the terrorist offences, there have been very, very serious comments that they’ve made, encouraging attacks on elected Members of Parliament. Not from my own party, but it is my job to stand up against that. It’s horrific.”

Following Starmer’s comments to The Sun that their Glastonbury set is “not appropriate,” Kneecap responded by sharing a screenshot of Starmer’s interview online and writing: “You know what’s ‘not appropriate’ Keir?! Arming a fucking genocide… Fuck The Sun and solidarity with [Palestinian Action].”

Glastonbury festival organiser Emily Eavis recently broke her silence on the controversy. “There have been a lot of very heated topics this year, but we remain a platform for many, many artists from all over the world,” she explained on BBC News. “Everyone is welcome here.”

Kneecap will perform on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival on June 28th at 4pm. As it stands, their set will also be shown by the BBC.

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