BELFAST rap trio Kneecap has secured victory in a discrimination case against the British government, after it withdrew a grant over the group’s political views.
Kneecap applied for a grant from the Music Export Growth Scheme last year, which was approved by the British Phonographic Industry.
But in February, then business secretary Kemi Badenoch blocked the funding.
Her spokesperson said that the government did not want to hand taxpayers’ money “to people that oppose the United Kingdom.”
The band, which supports a united Ireland and speaks out against Britain’s complicity in the genocide in Gaza, said they were told one of their tour posters, depicting Boris Johnson strapped to a rocket, had “pissed off the Tories.”
Belfast High Court ruled that the government acted unlawfully in its decision to block the grant. It was agreed that the sum of £14,250 would be paid by the government to the group.
Kneecap said in a statement: “They don’t like that we oppose British rule, that we don’t believe that England serves anyone in Ireland and the working classes on both sides of the community deserve better; deserve funding, deserve appropriate mental health services, deserve to celebrate music and art and deserve the freedom to express our culture.
“They broke their own laws in trying to silence Kneecap.
“What they did was a fascist type action, an attempt to block art that does not agree with their views after an independent body made a decision.”
The band said the funds would be donated to two organisations in Belfast who “work with the two communities to create a better future for our young people.”
Thanking the group, Conchir O Muadaigh, chairperson of Glor na Mona, an organisation based in Ballymurphy, said: “Your support will have a lasting impact on our work with young people and the Irish language revival here in West Belfast.”
Sarah Jane Waite, director of RCity Belfast in Shankill Road, said the funds will support social action projects in North Belfast and programmes focusing on “building positive relationships between youth from Shankill and Ardoyne communities.”
The Department for Business and Trade said the government’s priority is to “reduce costs” and protect the taxpayer so it will not contest the challenge.
