In February this year I was disgusted to read that Boris Johnson, the current Mayor of London, had slashed funding for big multi-cultural events while putting £100,000 into a new venture to celebrate America. Here is a portion from the Guardian report:
Figures seen by the Guardian show that the London mayor cut funding for Black History Month, a series of events staged in October to celebrate black culture in the capital, from £132,000 to £10,000, though city hall insists the previous figure was £76,000. Africa Day’s £100,000 grant from the London Development Agency was axed completely and a decision to cut funding for the St Patrick’s Day celebration was roundly criticised last year. Funding for Jewish events was halved to £50,000.
Johnson was accused of “subsidising wealthy Americans” after the Guardian reported earlier this year that the development agency, the mayor’s economic arm, had allocated £75,000 to USA Day. It emerged yesterday that the mayor has agreed to top this up with a further £25,000 from the Greater London Authority (GLA), bringing the total to £100,000.
This information clearly demonstrates where Boris Johnson's loyalties lie and, to be honest, do not help the perception of him being a racist, elitist, out-of-touch, suck-up Conservative.
The 2007 estimates for the number of Black people in London (including those with a mixed black heritage) were 12.1% and 12% were Irish. A study in 2002 found there were 195,000 Jewish people living in London, the 13th highest city in the world.
As for the number of American people living in London? The 2001 census recorded 44,622. Jamaica alone had 80,319 while Ireland had 157,285.
So now we have a few facts, lets step back and look at this decision:
The Mayor of London decides to cut funding to celebrate Black, Irish and Jewish events, with some funding being cut altogether, despite the fact that these three cultural groups make up a substantial portion of the population of London, a city that PRIDES itself on its cultural diversity and loves to celebrate it. He then grants £100,000 to a culture which in 2001 made up 0.85% OF THE LONDON POPULATION.
The Guardian says: Johnson has previously defended the move as part of a drive to attract more American tourists to the capital
So is Mr Johnson suggesting that Americans won't go anywhere that doesn't big up their country? Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't going holiday suggest you want to explore a new and different culture rather than celebrate your own? How many Americans sit at home and think 'oh I wish I could celebrate America... I know, I'LL GO TO THE UK! THEY HAVE USA DAY!'?
Responding to the outrage of this decision, a spokesman for the mayor said:
"Events must have local and community support if they are to add value and make a proper contribution to community cohesion in London, and as has been seen with the celebrations for St Patrick's Day and a new Jewish cultural festival that is coming up, it is possible for communities themselves to create greatly enhanced events, but with reduced GLA funding. The GLA does not own Black History Month or Africa Day, but we would hope community groups would be able to develop programmes that mark these in a similar way."
This is possibly the angriest a Tory politician has ever made me - OH WAIT STRIKE THAT, NOW THEY'RE INCREASING UNIVERSITY TUITION FEES, THE ELITIST BASTARDS! - and I cannot wait for the Mayoral Election when I can do my bit in helping kick Boris Johnson the hell out.
Robyn
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3 comments:
Yeah! For my part, I could care less if there's a USA day. If I'm in another country the last thing I want is to be reminded of the one I'm desperately vacationing from!
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