Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
WIRELESS in Finsbury Park: the Labour Council, their customer Live Nation and their fascist-rapper booking
GUARDIAN: Sadiq Khan and Jewish Leadership Council condemn Wireless festival ...
The Labour Council's policy of hiring out public parks has led to another controversial booking in Finsbury Park by their global, prosecuted-monopolist customer, Live Nation.
Council Leader Peray Ahmet has in the past defended and endorsed Grime as representing "working class struggle".
Grime is also associated with violence, misogyny and homophobia. Meanwhile rapper Kanye West is associated with fascism and anti-semitism.
Jobs in the council's Events Team depend on the Live Nation relationship. The council's busy PR team continue to promote Finsbury Park as a summer gig venue as part of the Borough's cultural offer.
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Update: at 20:30 hours, 1 April 2026
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has added his voice to the disgust already voiced and the Guardian's headline now reflects that. A few treat this as a joke. Here is what Mayor Khan had to say:
In a press statement on Wednesday 1 April, a spokesperson for London mayor Sadiq Khan said: “We are clear that the past comments and actions of this artist are offensive and wrong, and are simply not reflective of London’s values. This was a decision taken by the festival organizers and not one that City Hall is involved in.”
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Here are some sample questions for journalists or the council Opposition, to ask of Peray Ahmet, Leader of Haringey Council and currently seeking re-election in Noel Park Ward:
- When did the council leader first learn of the Kanye West booking?
- Was the urgency to bind the next two council Administrations before the "purdah" pre-election period, due to Cllr Ahmet's foreknowledge that Kanye West was likely to headline for three nights at Wireless?
- The council leader enjoys a close, cordial relationship with the Festival Republic promoter. If there was no foreknowledge of the booking, then why not? Was this headliner booking concealed from her?
- Was council leader Ahmet aware that the headliner in our public park was expelled from Australia?
- How much concern—if any—does leader Ahmet feel about the promotion of Nazi values, Hitler admiration, swastika display; anti-semitism, misogyny and homophobia?
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#LabourValues? #LabourParty? #Values?
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Tags for Forum Posts: Antisemite, Department of Justice, Emily Arkell, Events Team, Festival Republic, Finsbury Park, Grime, Haringey Council, Hitler, Kanye West, More…
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson
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There is an interview with Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, about West being invited to perform, on Newsnight this evening.
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Permalink Reply by Gordon T
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Looks like Trump's 'Important update' trumped the Rosenberg interview...
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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HARINGEY LABOUR Council led by Peray Ahmet has locked in the hire of the public's park in which Nazi sympathiser Kanye West will Headline for three days.
The silence from Haringey HQ suggests the local Labour leader does not care. Others take a different view; here's some recent Press and media comment:
THE SUN – Furious Wireless fans vow to boycott the festival as Kanye West is ...
MIRROR – 'With Kanye West set to headline Wireless, why are we so quick to f...
The Jewish Chronicle – Ban Kanye West from Britain, says Jewish leader
Kanye West wins Antisemite of the Year award from Jewish-hate watchdog
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ITV Kanye's comments 'not reflective of London' says mayor as rapper co...
BBC – Kanye West to return to UK for Wireless Festival
London's Labour Mayor has stepped up about London values. Given the local Labour Council's lack of responsibility, should the Labour Home Secretary not step intervene?
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Thank you Clive and Michael for these alerts. Kanye West is 'headlining' on all three days, BBC Radio London reported this morning.
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IN a possible effort to distance themselves from anti-semitism and the promotion of Nazi ideologies, Haringey Council's ceaseless propaganda arm would likely—or will—claim that they have no control over the acts that their customer books.
- In the council-controlled park
- In the council-employed Licencing Authority
- On the Labour-dominated Licensing Committee
- With the council's secret "Land Use Agreement" that details Events
- Negotiated by the council Events Team and the council Legal Team
- And all promoted by the council's Press Team and the council leader
Any claim implying council powerlessness would not hold water. The history of the rapper is well-known. Either, the Grime-fan council leader doesn't know about the rapper's reputation or she does not care. 12 months ago, West was dropped by a talent agency:
EURONEWS—Kanye 'Ye' West dropped by talent agency following 'harmful and hateful remarks'
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Permalink Reply by Simon
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This represents a new low and a significant danger to the safety of members of our community. Labour’s decision to grant a five year contract at the very last moment to Live Nation has clearly gave the promoter a signal that they could to do what they like with no consequences. I still believe that central government - perhaps the District Auditor should investigate all the circumstances surrounding this decision and use what ever reserve powers they hold as necessary.
The thought that this Council should money from someone who spreads antisemitism, hatred and bigotry chills me to the bone. How have we got to this situation?
In know that the Ed Davy has made representations to the government about the safety issues involved and I would encourage others to make their voices known on this subject. I also think it worth raising concerns with the Minister of State for Local Government about the circumstances of the last minute decision to grant the new contract.
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I do wonder what Live Nation were thinking when booking this man. He is a Nazi, pure and simple. His recent disavowals of what he has been doing and saying over the past few years stinks of someone who realises (or more likely his management company insist) that he needs to make money by ‘rehabilitating’ himself.
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Permalink Reply by Christopher Fowler
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Have there not been numerous previous incidents in Mr West's life that suggest he may have some mental health issues, which do not seem to have been addressed? Perhaps sympathetic attention to such issues by his management company would be more beneficial to him than exploiting his notoriety by headlining thee nights running in Finsbury Park.
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Indeed Christopher. If his behaviour has been due to poor mental health he surely needs caring for - not to be used as an income stream. It comes across as some vile freak show.
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I have to agree with you. I think that he was associated with one of the Kardashian clan, some years ago, which did not go well, and at that time one wondered why he had no real friends or family that would take care of him and his health needs. But everyone around him uses him, and his notoriety, to make money. What a world!
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The thought that this Council should money from someone who spreads antisemitism, hatred and bigotry chills me to the bone. How have we got to this situation?
Simon, we got to this situation through greed, poor judgement and council amorality.
The council's customer (Live Nation) did not become a prosecuted monopolist by playing nice or by having moral or ethical qualms.
The council leader Peray Ahmet is keen on culture and so far appears indifferent about the council's cultural "offer" including Kanye West. Either,
- The park controllers (the council Events Team) told the leader about the booking before the cabinet member signing … and Cllr Ahmet decided to keep quiet about it; or
- The park controllers may have concealed this information from the leader and/or the cab member for parks & culture; or
- Despite the cosy relationship, Live Nation subsidiary Festival Republic deliberately concealed from all parts of the council, the booking of a prominent Nazi sympathiser
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UNSUITABLE
At the time of the last, shameful five-deal with the global live-music monopolist, local Councillor Alex Worrell was quoted in The Standard on the unsuitability of the too-big events for our park. Alex resigned from Labour Party about four months ago and for the next five weeks, remains as an independent Haringey Councillor.
Alexandra Worrell, a Labour councillor for Stroud Green ward, said she believes events the scale of Wireless are “unsuitable” for the park, and the council has not been “sufficiently clear, transparent or communicative” about how the money raised from the events was being used.
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I wonder if this issue will be raised by the Green Party at the forthcoming local council elections? I mean, how green is it to use a large public park for a music festival headlining fascists and racists, while denying access to local folk in need of a walk in greenery, a kick-about with a football, or some quiet contemplation of nature?
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