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—Photo credit: probably a photographer working for 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 Clive Carter
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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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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton
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I hope, Angela, that you are not thinking of encouraging other HoL members to use this website to defame someone else. Wouldn't that be both unfair and possibly reckless?
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DEFAMATION:
An analogy, plus the likely source of at least some of the allegations against the headliner-booking in Finsbury Park.
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Trump—in his case against the BBC for defamation—faces a long list of hurdles. His $10 billion case in Florida next February is clearly intended for (a) initial headlines and (b) for the longer term effect of intimidating reporters.
The last hurdle and possibly the most interesting BBC defence, is that Trump cannot be defamed.
In order to damage someone's reputation, they need to have a good name to lose in the first place.
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Angela's mention of allegations concerning Kanye West, may have been founded on reporting in the Los Angeles Times (below) and by the BBC.
Kanye West’s ex-assistant details alleged sexual assault, stalking ...
In my view, the Home Secretary acted in the wider interests of the UK. However, as noted by the PM and others, this odious individual should never have been invited to the UK in the first place.
The promoter claimed that all stakeholders had okayed the headliner.
(a) was Haringey Council—as landlord and Licensing Authority and headed up by Grime-fan council leader Peray Ahmet—a "stakeholder"; and
(b) did she or her Events Team approve of the booking?
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