Irvine Welsh calls government attack on Kneecap “a total embarrassment”

Irvine Welsh has called the government attack on Kneecap “a total embarrassment” in a newly shared essay.

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Welsh wrote 1993 novel Trainspotting, which Kneecap previously told NME was a key influence when making their biopic film, which he praised at the time. Scottish novelist has since lauded their efforts in “speaking up” about Palestine despite government pressure.

His comments come amid a time of intense scrutiny for the rap trio, after band member Mo Chara – real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – is being charged over alleged footage showing him displaying a Hezbollah flag during a Kneecap show last November. The band have consistently denied supporting either Hamas or Hezbollah, and said that they do not incite or condone violence.

It follows a wave of controversy the band has experienced since their Coachella 2025 appearance in April, which saw the band’s livestream cut after they started an anti-Thatcher chant. The group’s “Free Palestine” message was also confirmed to have been axed from the stream, and the statement reportedly left organisers “blindsided” due to its political nature.

The band’s long-standing support of Palestine has seen them loudly broadcast their message via social media and high-profile TV appearances, and in their Cover feature for NME last year where they made their stance against what they call Israel’s “occupation and genocide” of Gaza clear, and went on to help raise nearly £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the Aida Refugee Camp in Palestine.

They also they hit out at Israel for breaking the Gaza ceasefire in a “slaughter” against the “most vulnerable people on earth” in March.

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In a new essay published by The Face, Welsh wrote of the horrific scenes coming out of Palestine, where “you see the mass slaughter of children happening in Gaza in real time”.

Touching on the band’s advocacy for the people of Palestine, he said “three young musicians from Derry and West Belfast are bringing this to our attention,” and were “pointing to this line in the sand that we shouldn’t cross.

“And when all the British state can do in response is persecute a band for this – to try to stop them from playing music and from touring internationally with these ridiculous, nonsensical charges – it really is just an embarrassment to us all. A total embarrassment. It makes you feel embarrassed to be breathing the same air as the people who try to do this, who try to silence these voices.”

Following the Coachella performance, Sharon Osbourne had called for a “revocation” of the band’s work visa, saying they “compromised” the festival’s “moral and spiritual integrity”. Politicians have also called for them to be removed from festivals after alleged comments from the band calling for the death of Conservative MPs.

While there has been pressure from some MPs to have Kneecap dropped from their festival appearances including Glastonbury summer, there has also been mounting pressure from many artists and creatives for Prime Minister Keir Starmer to “end UK complicity” in Gaza.

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Directing his attention to the group’s upcoming Worthy Farm performance, Starmer said, when asked by The Sun if they should still play: “No, I don’t, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this. This is about the threats that shouldn’t be made, I won’t say too much because there’s a court case on, but I don’t think that’s appropriate.”

In their response, Kneecap shared a screenshot of the interview and wrote: “You know what’s “not appropriate” Keir?! Arming a fucking genocide… Fuck The Sun and solidarity with [Palestinian Action].”

Their post is referencing the pro-Palestinian activist group that recently targeted RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military aircraft. The government now plans to proscribe the group, which would effectively brand it as a terrorist organisation.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch had made similar remarks regarding the trio’s upcoming Glastonbury set, posting on X/Twitter: “The BBC should not be showing Kneecap propaganda. One Kneecap band member is currently on bail, charged under the Terrorism Act,” she wrote. “As a publicly funded platform, the BBC should not be rewarding extremism.”

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Her comments come after the BBC said it will continue with its planned coverage of the band’s set at West Holts, although it may be edited to coincide with editorial guidelines.

Welsh’s essay continued to say that “whatever our political perspective is”, the ongoing conflict was an “atrocity”, adding: ” It doesn’t matter who’s perpetrating it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s children of Muslims, Jews, Christians, atheists — if children are being destroyed in this way, we have to rediscover our common humanity.

“Because we all believe, when you sit people down – take them offline, take them out of the noise – there is not one person who believes that children should be blown apart with bombs. That should be the unifying ideology.”

Urging readers to be “inspired by people like Kneecap”, he concluded: “Let’s be inspired by people who are speaking up in their own voices, from their own culture, from their own places, and saying: No. This isn’t acceptable. More power to Kneecap. And more power to everybody speaking up against these atrocities.”

As the conflict continues to escalate, Israel continue to deny allegations of genocide and war crimes against the people of Palestine, in the wake of the October 7 attacks at the hand of Hamas.

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The band have also received support from fellow musicians, including Johnny Marr, who recently shared a statement in response to calls for their set to be pulled, which said: “I stand with my audience and fellow musicians who call for an immediate end to the atrocities and a free Palestine.”

Campaign group Love Music Hate Racism is among those expressing their support for Kneecap, saying via social media statement: “Anyone trying to silence them, or get them pulled from shows, is on the wrong side of history”.

Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten, also recently claimed that the terror charge brought against Mo Chara was “a witch hunt”.

On June 18, Mo Chara appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court, after after urging fans to show their support for him at Westminster with “a big bag of ket” – and posting billboards across London with the message: “More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara”.

Inside the court, Og O hAnnaidh simply confirmed his name, date of birth and Belfast address before he was released on unconditional bail until his next hearing on August 20.

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