ⓒ The Irish Times
The Irish language rap group Kneecap has achieved a significant victory in its legal battle against the UK government. After former Conservative minister Kemi Badenoch, now party leader, unlawfully blocked their arts grant application, Kneecap successfully challenged the decision in Belfast High Court.
The UK government conceded, admitting the decision was both unlawful and procedurally unfair. While the financial sum involved was £14,000 (€16,000), the group emphasized the principle at stake. For Kneecap, the case was about defending artistic expression and the principles of the Good Friday Agreement, not the money itself. The grant will be shared with two community groups in Belfast.
The group’s arrival at court in a repurposed RUC Land Rover highlighted the symbolic nature of their protest. They argued that their 2019 ‘Farewell to the Union’ tour poster, deemed provocative by the Conservative Party, prompted the funding rejection. The UK government, in its statement, cited cost-cutting measures as the reason for not contesting the case, but their actions were met with criticism from Kneecap and their lawyer, Darragh Mackin, who called the ruling a victory for arts and culture and the Good Friday Agreement.
DJ Próvaí, a member of Kneecap, expressed his disappointment that legal action was even necessary, viewing it as an affront to the courts and the UK government’s overreach. The case sets a precedent, highlighting the importance of equitable funding for artists and the need to uphold artistic freedom.
