2012 Olympic Censorship - Hackney picks up the baton
The poison of Olympic lies and delusions is steadily spreading through the Olympic Boroughs. Earlier in the year Hackney Mayor Jules Pipe denounced Michael Rosen, the Children's Laureate, for criticising the development in Dalston as 'degeneration' saying Rosen wanted to 'keep Hackney crap'. Now this argument between Hackney's authors and its Council has plumbed new depths with the banning of Iain Sinclair, author of 'The Olympic Scam' (see attachment), from launching his new book, 'Hackney, That Rose-Red Empire', on Council premises.
The Council justified its ban with the following absurd reasoning: "Ian Sinclair is well known as an author who has expressed controversial opinions on local issues, such as regeneration and the 2012 Olympic legacy. A decision was taken that it would be inappropriate to launch this book about Hackney in a Council owned facility, as we do not wish it to appear that the Council condones or shares opinions expressed within the book. The same decision would be taken about launching any book expressing controversial or political opinions from a Council owned facility. The Council is happy to advise Mr Sinclair's publishers on more suitable venues in the borough, such as independent bookstores."
Why anyone would think that because Iain Sinclair was using Council premises this might suggest Council approval of his opinions is a mystery. Even stranger is the implication that it is necessary for the Council to distance itself from the opinions expressed in his book when it has no idea of what he has written. Sinclair is not renowned for inciting hatred or violence, which would seem to be the only legitimate and legal grounds for barring someone from using Council premises. In their ban Hackney highlight the fact that his controversial opinions relate to ‘local issues’. It is an indication of the Council's intellectual bankruptcy that it seems to regard this as further justification for banning him from local facilities.
For some reason Hackney is particularly concerned about ‘book launches’ saying this decision would apply to ‘any book’. So what about books already launched and possibly berthed on its library shelves, assuming they haven’t already been removed to make way for stored ideas, ‘expressing controversial or political opinions’? The idea that ‘expressing controversial or political opinions’ is an adequate reason for banning Mr Sinclair would suggest all debate, including political argument, should be banished from Hackney’s hallowed halls. Mr Pipe, himself, should be prevented from making assertions about ‘crap’ on Council-owned premises.
It is disturbing when visions of farce start to become reality. The fact that Hackney highlights Mr Sinclair’s views on the Olympic Legacy and regeneration reveals the real reason for the ban. For Iain Sinclair to question the holy grail of East End Olympic regeneration requires Hackney’s knights to ride to its rescue! The tools of media manipulation and misinformation are close at hand when it comes to the Olympics. London 2012 tries to keep a tight rein on what can be said on its blog, see Higgins bl*gs again, and the infection spreads to other organisations like Art on the Underground, see Inclusive Censorship: Art on the Underground TriFLes with our lives.
The hallowed Olympic park itself is protected with the drawn sword of Anti-Terrorism legislation. The obsession with control and security descends into dangerous farce. Recently an artist taking a photograph of a child pictured on the blue fence was told by a security guard he had to hand over the film or have it taken off him! Because of the alignment of the fence the artist wasn’t even facing the park when taking the photograph, deemed on other occasions to be an offence. He had thought it quaint that the child was also taking a photo.
Hackney Council's equally farcical venture into literary criticism plainly rests on its belief that its premises ‘belong’ to the Council, that is its staff and politicians, rather than to the people, like Iain Sinclair, who live in the Borough and pay for their upkeep along with the salaries of these same staff and politicians. These guardians of propriety present themselves as being above the din of ill-informed popular controversy, determined to prevent the pollution of Council-owned facilities by vulgar opinion.
The language of the ban is impersonal. We aren’t told who took the ‘decision’, only that ‘a decision was taken’. What arcane mystery does this conceal? How did this come about? It’s as if the ban is a kind of collective spiritual response from deep within the bowels of Hackney’s Council-owned facilities transmitted through the medium of a Council spokesperson! The Council has a vague unease. It is not entirely sure of what it is objecting to. It does not clearly assert wrongdoing. Only that something ‘inappropriate’ is about to happen! It seems to fear something ‘Sinclair’ is threatening the noble, Olympian ideals of Hackney - trying to keep it ‘crap’.
But, of course, being a Council it is ‘happy’ to advise on ‘more suitable’ venues. So they really are the good guys.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| The Olympics Scam by Iain Sinclair.doc | 80 KB |
Submitted by Julian Cheyne on Thu, 23/10/2008 - 23:48.
Article | 2012 Arts & Culture | Hackney | Legacy | Regeneration
What a 'whipping' public relations consultant!
Submitted by Julian Cheyne on Sat, 25/10/2008 - 02:38.
"Grow up"! Such sohisticated political argument! So typical of our political masters. No doubt a highly regarded expression in topline public relations circles.
Luke Akehurst states: "It (the ban) primarily exists so that the BNP and other bigots cannot claim an equal right to hire council premises to preach hate." As Charles Batsworth points out, Akehurst continues saying that the decision as to who to allow in rests with unnamed bureaucrats, so if they choose these officers can distinguish between the offensive and inoffensive. Even this advocate of age advancement cannot be suggesting Iain Sinclair is being banned for this kind of offensive behaviour.
Luke Akehurst's recent cv, according to the UK PR Consultant of the Year website referred to above states:
"Most recently, he has advised Shropshire County Council on achieving its bid to become a unitary council, and advised Devon County Council on their successful campaign, against the political odds, to fend off a unitary bid by Exeter."
This shows an admirable evenhandedness dependent, I presume, on the availability of the necessary funding!
» reply
Hackney does its bit for 2012
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 24/10/2008 - 13:09.
Nice quote from recent Evening Standard piece -
"IAIN Sinclair complains that he has been banned by Hackney council from launching his next book, Hackney, That Rose-Red Empire, in a local library because he published a piece in the London Review of Books criticising the 2012 Olympics.Obviously, it is idiotic of the council to ban Sinclair, the borough's most distinguished living writer after Harold Pinter. Still, this daft decision does have the virtue of drawing our attention to Sinclair's original essay.
Headlined The Scam of Scams, it's top stuff. Like all Sinclair's writing, it combines convoluted rhetoric with lots of footwork. He doesn't just issue sweeping condemnations from on high, he gets out there and trudges round the site. It's surely the best piece so far inspired by 2012. Hackney council has done well thus to bring it to our attention - and it would do even better now to make plenty of copies available in all its surviving libraries."
» reply
Regeneration wars hot up
Submitted by Julian Cheyne on Sat, 25/10/2008 - 01:52.
Apparently City Hall considers Hackney's decision a 'bizarre attack on free speech', City Hall backs author over book row.
While in Hackney the regeneration wars are hotting up as OPEN Dalston reports that Ridley Road market traders are now being evicted from their storage area, Dalston's market traders told to get out, and the Council declares it has no obligation to provide storage for traders. Last May Council electricity supplies to the market were cut off and have not yet been restored.
» reply
Ian Sinclair's response
Submitted by Martin Slavin on Sat, 25/10/2008 - 04:33.
Banned in Hackney - for going off-message about the Olympics
The 'Today' programme Radio 4, Tuesday 21 October 2008
» reply
And into the blogosphere
Submitted by Martin Slavin on Sun, 26/10/2008 - 11:52.
Viral marketing by Kim Wright, Corporate Director of Community and Leisure Services, Hackney Council. (allegedly)
» reply
Hackney denies opposing Sinclair book launch 'in Hackney'!
Submitted by Julian Cheyne on Sat, 08/11/2008 - 14:57.
A Hackney spokesperson has now issued the following muddled statement: "The council was never against Iain Sinclair launching his book in Hackney and the decision to cancel the planned launch of his forthcoming book from Stoke Newington library was not motivated by the desire to ban or censor his opinions."
I don't think anyone has accused the Council of trying to prevent Iain Sinclair launching his book 'in Hackney' so this is just peculiar.
Mr Sinclair will now be invited to an event on Hackney premises!
» reply
Pipe 'explains'
Submitted by Lee, Dalston (not verified) on Sun, 09/11/2008 - 02:39.
no we didn't, yes we did actually, no we never were, but he's invited at later date on our terms...
Dear Mr Rao
Re: Iain Sinclair
Thank you for your email regarding the above matter.
Iain Sinclair is well known as an author who has expressed controversial opinions on local issues. A decision was taken to withdraw an invitation to launch his forthcoming book in a Hackney library, as a result of his recently published, largely negative comments about regeneration in the borough and the 2012 Olympic Games.
The Council is working hard to create a thriving new neighbourhood at Hackney Wick, including affordable new homes, business space, sports facilities and green spaces. The Council views the 2012 Games as an opportunity to regenerate and revitalise this area of Hackney, and therefore does not wish to be seen to support or condone views contradictory to these aims, such as those of Mr Sinclair.
I wish to emphasise that in no way is the Council seeking to ban Mr Sinclair’s book, prevent it from being stocked in Hackney libraries once published, nor is it fettering free speech. The matter was one of whether it was right for the Council to be actively promoting such views when not part of a balanced debate.
The Council recognises there are various views on the 2012 Games, and is not seeking to curtail free speech or freedom of opinion within Hackney. Indeed the Council welcomes public discussion on such matters and has not just taken part but helped organise debates on these very issues with different sides making contributions, both for and against. However, that in no way describes a “one-sided” commercial book launch in a public library that could easily be misconstrued as an endorsement by the local authority of the writer’s views.
The Council was never against Mr Sinclair launching his book in the borough and were always happy to suggest suitable Hackney venues to his publishers. I understand that Mr Sinclair has now chosen to launch his title in Pages of Hackney, the borough’s latest and recently opened independent bookshop.
In addition, the Council is writing to Mr Sinclair’s publisher to invite him to speak at an alternative event next year. This will be held at a Council venue, with the exact format and date to be decided, but unlike the promotional book launch it will present a balance of different views.
Yours sincerely
Jules Pipe
Mayor of Hackney
» reply
Re:
Submitted by Rehan Qayoom (not verified) on Mon, 10/11/2008 - 18:04.
BRAVO Iain Sinclair. This supression has only served to big up your true comments about money-mongering scoundrels who are destroying this country and everything that it stands for by hijacking flimsy terms such as 'regeneration.' Yeah, Right!
» reply
Islington Libraries welcome Iain Sinclair
Submitted by Charles Batsworth on Wed, 12/11/2008 - 23:14.
'Banned' author is welcomed - Islington Gazette 29/10/08
A CONTROVERSIAL author banned from launching his book at a Hackney library because of his views has been welcomed to Islington with open arms.
Ian Sinclair was due to appear at the Stoke Newington Library to talk about his upcoming book Hackney, That Red Rose Empire.
But Hackney's Labour leaders intervened to cancel his reading after he published an article in the London Review of Books entitled The Olympics Scam.
A spokesman for Hackney Council said it would be inappropriate to host a book "expressing controversial or political opinions".
But Councillor Ruth Polling, Islington's executive member in charge of libraries and culture, called the decision "deeply troubling". She said:
"There will never be censorship of this sort as long as the Lib-Dems run Islington. Banning an author from speaking because of his views about the Government's incompetence is monstrous. But what's worse is the Labour council's blanket statement that controversial opinions are no longer welcome in their libraries. Libraries should be a place for discourse and free thinking. I'm pleased to offer Islington's libraries for Mr Sinclair's book launch.
» reply
Iain Sinclair: Latest Developments
Submitted by steve (not verified) on Thu, 13/11/2008 - 14:38.
Dave Hill lists the latest developments in the Hackney saga.
» reply
The Mayor dunnit!
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 18/12/2008 - 00:03.
"...We clearly need to find a solution to this issue and I appreciate your concerns. It is clear that we cannot allow the event to go ahead. I have discussed this with The Mayor and his direction was clear. He feels, as do I, that we should not host an event on Council premises promoting a book which has an overtly contraversial and political (albeit non-party) agenda, and actively promotes an opinion which contradicts our aims and values as an organisation - in this case the 2012 games and legacy, which Sinclair's book will seek to 'expose' as a con being perpetrated on the people of the East End. My suggestion via James was that we write to the publishers and let them know that we feel it would be inappropriate for the Council to host the event, but offer to assist them by suggesting other local venues such as independent book shops. If pushed we can explain that we do not wish it to appear that the Council is in anyway condoning or endorsing the content of Sinclair's book. I have discussed the potential PR ramifications of this with Jules and he is comfortable with this approach, in that it is honest, straightforward and a position he would feel comfortable defending..."
Polly Rance, 24th September 2008
- as revealed in a Freedom of Information request by gamesmonitor.org
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/records_concerning_cancellation
» reply
by
Hackney Councillor clarifies the SInclair ban
This comment on the OpenDalston blog, was apparently posted by the Luke Akehurst, Hackney councillor, Labour Group Chief Whip and "UK PR Consultant of the Year"
'Cleverly publicised' his book? So the cunning Sinclair first arranged his book launch in a Hackney library (actually he was invited), then spent weeks writing an essay critical of the Olympics designed specifically to provoke Hackney Council into cancelling the event, then enjoyed the ensuing publicity... marketing genius!
If I understand the first part of the comment correctly, the implication is:
Any literary or art event taking place on Hackney Council premises may be subject to definition as a political meeting. The definition of "political" and "meeting" will be at the discretion of unnamed bureaucrats. Any other activities of the author of the work will be kept under review and may result in the event being classified as a political meeting and cancelled in consequence. How reassuring.