'For us, this action was never about £14,250; it could have been 50 pence. The motivation was equality'
Irish language rap trio Kneecap has won its legal challenge over a decision by former business secretary Kemi Badenoch to refuse them a £14,250 funding award after the UK Government conceded it was “unlawful”.
Reading an agreed statement, barrister for Kneecap Ronan Lavery KC said: “It is declared that the decision is unlawful, procedurally unfair, took into account immaterial considerations and failed to take into account relevant factors.” However, the grant scheme is overseen by the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport at Westminster, and then UK Business Secretary Ms Badenoch, now the Conservative Party leader, decided to refuse the funding in February.
The group had said its views in favour of Irish unity, and particularly a provocative poster for their 2019 “Farewell to the Union” tour, had angered the Conservative Party. “This was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap and our way of expressing ourselves.”
A statement from the Department for Business and Trade said: “This Government’s priority is to try and reduce costs and help protect the taxpayer from further expense, so we will not continue to contest Kneecap’s challenge as we do not believe it in the public interest.
Conservative Party West Belfast Entertainment
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