"The Belfast-based rap group Kneecap had been approved for a £15,000 grant by an independent selection board, but the Tory government stepped in to prevent it going ahead."
"A spokesperson for Kemi Badenoch, the [UK] Business Secretary, claimed to “fully support freedom of speech,” but added: “It's hardly surprising that we don't want to hand out UK taxpayers' money to people that oppose the United Kingdom itself.”
Badenoch: “I’m delighted we’re able to back more artists than ever before. I congratulate the successful acts and look forward to seeing them bang the [Lambeg?] drum for Britain across the globe.”
2/2 🧵
@MadeyeTheCarnaptious She can get in the bin with her obligatory Brit shit. We are not Russia, North Korea or China yet - but clearly we would be if Badenoch, Patel, Braverman et al were in control. 🤬 Kneecap are suing them over this pettiness.
I hope they win.
It's all part of their desperate campaign to ram the union flag down all of our throats. It's not just the Tories; Starmer's embraced the 'patriotism' shtick with a vengeance.
They don't give a shit about the fallout from any of this, they know they're toast.
@MadeyeTheCarnaptious Remember years ago when dissenting Irish opinions were voiced by actors on the media? All such moves do is increase the popularity and reach of those the government thinks they are silencing. Kneecap wouldn’t be my kind of music, but I totally support them in this and hope they win.
I remember it well, actors relaying Gerry Adams' words. It was a crude demeaning knee-jerk tactic and got them nothing but ridicule. Thatcher talked about starving Republicans of the oxygen of publicity and ended up doing the opposite.
@MadeyeTheCarnaptious @harriettmb
I remember that too.
