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.
WIRELESS 2023—CEO Festival Republic (Melvin Benn, left) with Haringey Council Leader (Peray Ahmet, right). Partners in Grime? Credit: Cllr. Ahmet's Twitter—photographer: probably council PR
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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?
Tags for Forum Posts: wireless
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson
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Perhaps you might have read my other posts about Wireless. I am one of the people who wants to see festivals on the park. Clive and some others do not. To lump everyone together because they share a view over one thing - a Nazi performing a five minute walk away from where I live - is the epitome of silliness. I have no idea if some people opposed West’s presence because their ulterior motive was to have the event not taking place at all but frankly I don’t care. A Nazi will now not be performing in my local park. And I do feel sorry for those employed by Live Nation who will be out of pocket but I will not shed a tear if Live Nation get sued into oblivion. If they were thick enough to think that booking a fascist would not cause outrage they deserve everything they get.
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Permalink Reply by Jamie Harper
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Your views on festivals have nothing to do with what I wrote. But, given your ability to read between the lines, I'm sure you know that.
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I think your problem in this debate is assuming that because a group of people are in agreement on one issue they must also be in agreement on all. I, for instance, believe that the Palestinian people to have the right to self determination and that they have been subject to immoral, unethical and indefensible suffering. I also believe that criticising the actions of the state of Israel is not anti-Semitic, anymore that disagreeing with the actions of a country like Saudi Arabia would be anti-Muslim. I would imagine that others in this particular debate have a range of views on the subject, some of which I may not agree with. That doesn’t mean that I must necessarily disagree with other views they may have.
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I would imagine the withdrawal of both the main sponsors and the three night headliner act at this stage will make it financially unviable. By the way I have no problem with Wireless events in Finsbury Park. I do have problems with Nazis performing.
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"As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking YE and no concerns were highlighted at the time." Extract from Festival Republic's statement, reported at
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c77e60v0my1t
Including Haringey Council? They really should say whether they were consulted or not.
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Permalink Reply by Simon
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A landlord certainly could be a stakeholder and given recent contract negotiations they would have been talking. The Leader is enthusiastic about Wireless and has defended them. Currently lots of criticism of Wireless at the moment. If the Council denies being consulted they need to be right - Mr Benn sounded very unhappy this morning. Could he be prepared to throw others under the bus.
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter
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Including Haringey Council? They really should say whether they were consulted or not.
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It does not look good, either way.
EITHER the council leader and/or her Events Team (LBH) were consulted and—likely as always—had no problem with the booking;
OR the Landlord and the Licensing authority (also LBH) were not consulted and the usual Event Team assent and eagerness for cash by whatever means were assumed.
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EDDY, agree.
It is possible that the council & their closest customer are both (separately) insured against force majeure. Blocking someone from entering the country may count as force mjaeure for insurance purposes or, given West's foreseeable notoriety, possibly not.
Due to Covid—and very late in the day—a previous Wireless gig was cancelled under Parks Cab Member Kirsten Hearn. I understand that the government reimbursed the council much of the contract value, possibly 70%.
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The allegations of KW's sex assaults, trafficking, stalking haven't been mentioned on here - unless I am missing something
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THERE's a litany of issues with this man, some of which have not' been mentioned.
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In connection with Labour leaders' reactions, the London Mayor deserves credit for leadership that led; Sadiq Khan was probably an active influence on the PM.
Meanwhile, local council leader (Peray Ahmet) has a raft of questions to answer. Councillors could insist on seeing in ether draft or final form, the secret Land Use Agreement or any other relevant contract to the KW gig.
Including the role of the Events Team.
Some of the council's problems stem from excessive secrecy.
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