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:

1. When did the council leader first learn of the Kanye West booking?
2. 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?
3. 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?
4. Was council leader Ahmet aware that the headliner in our public park was expelled from Australia?
5. 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?