Reform UK's attempts to organise p*** up at brewery fall short
PLUS: The prison so bad they call it The Airport
Hello and welcome to The Lancashire Lead.
Sometimes, readers, a headline writes itself. So it is with today’s lead story, which focuses on a business’s valiant attempts to not be caught in political crossfire.
While it’s easy to have a laugh at a genuine failure to organise a p*** up in a brewery, the business experienced review bombing on social media as a result of their decision to not host political events and that can be extremely damaging.
They aren’t the first business to be caught in a situation like this - and they certainly will not be the last.
We also report on the situation at one of two prisons in a Lancashire village that will, in the future, be welcoming a third. It’s not sounding great.
We haven’t forgotten the welfare reform bill - which limped over the line last night - but we want to report properly rather than rapidly on what’s happened. Expect that at the weekend.
Those voting against the bill were Cat Smith (Lancaster and Wyre), Lizzi Collinge (Morecambe and Lunesdale), Chris Webb (Blackpool South) and Lorraine Beavers (Blackpool North and Fleetwood). They were joined by Andrew Snowden (Fylde) and Adnan Hussain (Blackburn).
Voting for the bill were Sir Mark Hendrick (Preston), Ashley Dalton (West Lancashire), Paul Foster (South Ribble), Andy McNae (Rossendale and Darwen), Maya Ellis (Ribble Valley), Sarah Smith (Hyndburn), Jonathan Hinder (Pendle and Clitheroe) and Oliver Ryan (Burnley).
Lancaster Brewery throw out Reform UK shindig after Stand up to Racism tip-off
By Luke Beardsworth
Attempts by Reform UK to secretly organise a p*** up in a brewery were thwarted this weekend.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK had attempted to host what was described as a summer bash at Lancaster Brewery’s site at Lancaster Leisure Park.
But the event was reportedly not booked clearly as Reform UK, leading to the brewery cancelling the event when it became clear who was going to be in attendance.
The venue stressed that they do not host events for any political party - Reform UK or otherwise - but that hasn’t stopped supporters from blaming ‘woke pressure’ for the cancellation.
They added that the booking came through with the description as a ‘business event’ and not identified as political.
A spokesperson for Lancaster Brewery said: “Last week, we cancelled a booking for a July event after discovering it was for the Reform Party. Since then, we have received a wave of negative reviews, aggressive emails and online hostility.
“To be clear: We do not host events for any political party. That has been our policy for years. We have quietly turned down approaches from across the political spectrum and have always tried to remain nonpolitical and nonjudgmental.
“This event was not cancelled because of “woke pressure” or “leftie loons”. It was cancelled because it should never have been accepted in the first place. The booking came through as a generic business event. Had it been clear from the outset that it was political, we would not have taken it.
“We understand people have strong views, but directing anger at a small independent brewery for enforcing a long standing policy seems misplaced.”
Martyn Sutton, Reform UK’s county councillor for Skerton, provided the following to The Lancashire Lead: “I can confirm that a social rather than political event was booked at Lancaster Brewery. "As a venue it can hold up to 400 people, can host a great BBQ and has undercover outdoor space if the weather is inclement.
"It was not planned to be a closed event for Reform UK members and invitations were sent out to volunteers and supporters, as well as neighbouring branches.
"As Reform UK won seven out of the 10 divisions at Lancaster Town Hall on May 1, it seems likely that a fair number of Lancaster Guardian readers could have been present.
"I'm afraid that I can’t take seriously any comments from Stand Up to Racism about honesty and accountability. They are an anti-democratic organisation who actively campaigned to disrupt the county council election results, delivering their own leaflets advising people not to vote for Reform UK. Who paid for these leaflets and why are they not included in the election expense declarations of the Green Party and the Labour Party?
"It is a matter of public record that Stand Up to Racism held their own political event on September 14 last year at Lancaster Town Hall and openly stated that they are supported by the Green and Labour parties.
"Keynote speakers were Caroline Jackson and Erica Lewis. The Green Party in particular clearly gained from the Stand Up to Racism leaflet campaign.”
The venue, however, is not in an area that returned a Reform UK councillor. Lancaster South East elected a Green candidate with a healthy majority. Reform UK finished third, behind Labour.
A spokesperson for Stand up to Racism in Lancaster and Morecambe said: “We found out that Reform UK had announced its summer bash with a VIP guest at Lancaster Brewery.
“Two members who live next to the brewery emailed at 10.30pm and by 9am the next morning the booking was cancelled.
“It seems like Reform UK, who say they are for honesty and accountability, did not say who they were when they booked.”
Recommended reads this week
🩺 As poverty deepens across Britain, the Guardian visited some of the hardest-hit places where leaders are aiming to shift healthcare from hospitals to communities. Josh Halliday touched on areas of Lancashire, and other places in the north, for his missive on health inequalities. Full tale.
🚍 Preston MP Mark Hendrick is among those calling for Lancashire County Council to scrap a controversial bus gate. He told Blog Preston that he believes Reform UK should take action, though Reform UK believe it should stay in place.
🅿️ A driver who was being chased for a parking infringement despite being parked elsewhere has had her fine cancelled. The company who issued the fine say they are reasonable, professional and fair to deal with. Full story from the Lancashire Telegraph.
Lancashire prison has so many drones delivering drugs that inmates call it The Airport
By Simon Drury
A 'troubled' Lancashire prison has so many drones delivering drugs to inmates that prisoners call it 'The Airport'.
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