Belfast rap group wins case against UK government | Global News Avenue

Belfast rap group Kneecap have won a discrimination lawsuit against the UK government after a minister withdrew arts grants.

Kneecap’s lawyers told the court the decision by then business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch was “unlawful and procedurally unfair”.

The group was awarded £14,250 – the same amount originally awarded.

The band said in a statement that current Conservative leader Badenoch and her department “tried to silence us, but they failed”.

The band said they would split the £14,250 equally between two youth organizations, which work with the Protestant and Catholic communities in Northern Ireland to “build a better future for our young people”.

A spokesman for the department said it had decided not to proceed with the band’s challenge because “we did not believe it was in the public interest”.

They added: “A priority for this government is working to reduce costs and help protect taxpayers from further expenditure.”

Kneecap originally applied for the grant in December 2023 to support the development of UK-registered artists in global markets.

The group faced controversy over their lyrics and political views, but their application was successful, But then it was blocked Funding was obtained with the intervention of the Ministry of Commerce and Trade.

At the time, a spokesman for the then business secretary, Kemi Badenock, said they did not want to hand taxpayers’ money to “people who are against Britain itself”.

In a statement after Friday’s court hearing, band member DJ Próvaí said: “For us, this action was never about £14,250, it could have been 50p.”

The organization said it was motivated by “equality” in taking the case.

“This is an attack on arts and culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself, an attack on Kneecap and the way we express ourselves.”

Kneecap said they would split the prize money between two charities in Belfast, the Glór Na Móna charity in Ballymurphy and the Belfast RCity charity on Shankill Road.

Sarah Jane Waite, director of RCity Belfast, expressed the charity’s gratitude for “Kneecap’s generosity and support”.

She said the donation would be used for a number of projects, both local and international.

Meanwhile, Glór na Móna chairman Conchúr Ó Muadaigh said Kneecap’s support would “continue to boost our work with young people and the resurgence of the Irish language in west Belfast”.

Kneecap are an Irish rap trio from west Belfast They have attracted controversy for their provocative lyrics and merchandise.

The band was formed in 2017 by three friends with the stage names Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.

Their fame inspired a semi-fictional movie Starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender.

The film received rave reviews and won the Audience Award Sundance Film Festival.

However, the band faced criticism and scrutiny for its politically charged, expletive-laden and drug-related lyrics.

Their use of Troubles-related imagery also offended some critics.