Tory chair against ban of artists at NBHD Weekender

It was announced this week that Tories in Warrington are calling on the council to ban certain artists from performing at Neighbourhood Weekender.

The council says that it has nothing to do with organising the festival, nor monitoring the artists who appear there.

This is due to the artists in question using 'hate speech' during their sets at the festival.

There have been calls for the council to ban certain artists from performing at Neighbourhood Weekender, despite having nothing to do with the festival (Image: Newsquest)

One such artist is Jamie Webster, who in his 2022 appearance at the festival led the crowd in chants of 'F*** the Tories' - Webster did the same thing during his appearance this year.

MP for Warrington North Charlotte Nichols attended the festival, and tweeted her support for Webster's chanting, saying that she 'loves' to see it.

This drew criticism from many, given that Ms Nichols has promoted the Debate Not Hate campaign - which aims to ensure that political discourse does not become aggressive.

Chair of Warrington Conservatives, Theo Mirfin, said he believes Ms Nichols should resign as an MP.

Another criticism came from members of the Conservative borough council group, which is made up of Tories who sit on Warrington Borough Council.

A spokesperson for the group told the Warrington Guardian: "Conservatives believe fundamentally in free speech, but that does not mean that government organisations should actively facilitate anyone engaging in incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

"The whole council came together in 2022 to say that debating and disagreeing with one another is a healthy part of democracy, but abuse and intimidation cross the line into dangerous territory.

"The right type of language matters."

They added: "The Conservative Group is now calling on Warrington Borough Council to review the rules and procedures for events that they facilitate on council-owned parks and public spaces, and to ban the very small minority of artists who are willing to use hate speech in their performances.”

Cllr Wendy Maisey has critiqued the MP for Warrington North regarding the social media furore (Image: Cllr Wendy Maisey OBE)

Cllr Wendy Maisey, who is also president of Warrington Conservatives, said: "Charlotte Nichols MP has made many faux pas on social media, and she really needs to understand that words have repercussions.

"I asked a young member of the Conservatives at the weekend to come out and deliver leaflets with me. 

"Their response was that after the Neighbourhood Weekender tweet where the MP seemed to support [anti-Conservative] chanting, they were very concerned about repercussions.

"This is obviously bad for democracy at a time when we need to encourage young people to positively engage in local politics as they may well be the next generation of councillors for our town."

Clarifying her position on calling for a ban of certain artists, Cllr Maisey told the Warrington Guardian: "I believe in free speech.  

"In this instance, it’s the MP for Warrington North who should be adjusting her continued erratic behaviour and leading by example."

Theo Mirfin says that he does not support the calls to ban artists from Neighbourhood Weekender (Image: Theo Mirfin)

Now, in a bizarre turn of events, the chairman of Warrington Conservatives has come out against members of his local party.

Although he says he stands by his calls for Charlotte Nichols to resign her seat over the furore, he does not support the calls to ban certain artists from performing.

Theo Mirfin said: "In light of recent controversy, I stand by my call for Charlotte Nichols MP to resign. It's crucial to remember that those who hold public office ought not to fan the flames of hatred within our communities.

"The need for responsible conduct from our political leaders becomes even more vital in light of our shared history, marred as it is by unfortunate episodes.

"While I am an ardent advocate for free speech, it's essential to underline the importance of context and discretion in public discourse.

"Artists have every right to express themselves through their music and lyrics, even if those expressions may be provocative or controversial. They help to fuel debates, challenge perspectives and add texture to the cultural fabric of society."

Mr Mirfin added: "That said, Charlotte Nichols MP, who has been elected to represent us, shoulders a heavier burden. Her words carry weight, shaping public opinion and affecting the very fabric of our society.

"Therefore, it is her duty to foster an environment of peace and unity, not to sow seeds of division and discord. We need our leaders to think before they speak and consider the potential ramifications of their words.

"This is not just an expectation, but an imperative for those who wish to lead."

Labour's Charlotte Nichols has defended her words on social media, and has reiterated her call for a general election (Image: Newsquest)

Responding to Cllr Maisey's comments, Charlotte Nichols said: "These histrionics from Warrington Conservatives are just another attempt to distract from the issues facing the people of Warrington, not least the cost of living crisis and NHS emergency into which they have plunged our country.

"I will not take lectures from these people whose poisonous infighting, antisemitism and homophobia have defined the lowest public debate.

“While the Tories double down on this non-story, they should instead reflect that the bad reception that they receive on the doorsteps is nothing to do with my tweets, and everything to do with their shameful record of failure over the past thirteen years.

"If they want to engage young people, they should join my calls for a general election now so that we can elect a new government to finally give hope to the next generation.”

A spokesperson for Warrington Borough Council said: "We are not involved in arranging or contracting with the artists who perform at the Neighbourhood Weekender.

"We are aware that artists themselves are keen to pursue their freedom of speech/expression, and we are unable to monitor this.

"Lyrics and music can sometimes contain challenging messages and crowds make their own reactions to artist performances."

SJM Concerts declined to comment on this story.