Kneecap bids Starmer ‘Slán Keir’ after resignation

Rap trio Kneecap have bid Keir Starmer farewell in Irish after he announced his resignation as leader of the Labour Party.

The Irish group took to social media hours after the British prime minister spoke at a lectern in Downing Street on Monday morning.

Made up of rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh, the group are known for their politically-driven music and social commentary, often chanting “Free Palestine” during their gigs.

The group shared a video on Instagram captioned “Slán Keir” which means goodbye or farewell in Irish.

The video appears to mock the British prime minister and his time at number 10, and features clips of Starmer criticising the trio, including him saying that what they stand for and say is “completely intolerable”.

It cuts to a compilation of the group performing across the country, including their set at Glastonbury and chanting “f*** Keir Starmer” before cutting back to a slowed-down, black and white version of the video of the British prime minister with the words “completely intolerable” appearing in red over his face.

Starmer’s comments in the video were made after a terror charge against rapper Mo Chara, who was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terror organisation Hezbollah at a gig in north London, was thrown out last year.

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled that the proceedings were “instituted unlawfully” with the decision upheld earlier this year by two judges at the High Court following an appeal by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Kneecap released the single Liars Tale earlier this year where they criticised Starmer stance on Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and relationship to the US as well as saying he is “nothing but a Tory”.

The lyrics in Liars Tale include “you’re not getting away with doing nothing” and “f*** Keir Starmer, Netanyahu’s bitch and genocide armer”.