No Censorship in Islington: Liberal Democrats open arms to writers banned by Hackney Labour

10.48.00am GMT Tue 28th Oct 2008

Councillor Ruth Polling

Hackney's Labour council have banned a local author from using a Hackney library for a book launch because of his "controversial views" and his criticisms of the Government's handling of the Olympics. Islington's Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed their horror at this censorship, and have invited the writer to launch his book in Islington instead.

Author Ian Sinclair was supposed to appear at the Stoke Newington Library to talk about his upcoming book, 'Hackney, That Red Rose Empire'. But after he published an article in the London Review of Books entitled 'The Olympics Scam', Hackney's Labour leaders intervened to cancel his reading.

A spokesperson for Hackney Council said it would be inappropriate to host a book "expressing controversial or political opinions".

Councillor Ruth Polling, Islington's executive councillor in charge of libraries and culture, called Hackney's decision "deeply troubling". She said:

"There will never be censorship of this sort in as long as the Lib Dems run Islington. This censorship by Hackney Labour is deeply troubling.

"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.

"There are lots of Liberal Democrat-run boroughs around Hackney - Islington, Waltham Forest, and Camden - who wouldn't censor someone like this. I'm pleased to offer Islington's libraries for Mr. Sinclair's book launch."