It’s official: Mayor thought author ‘too controversial’ for library
Hackney author Iain Sinclair
Those who suspected that Iain Sinclair’s views on the Olympics might have been at the back of Mayor Jules Pipe’s mind when Hackney Council un-invited the renowned author from one of its libraries can enjoy the warm feeling of vindication today.
The Citizen can exclusively reveal that Sinclair’s invitation was withdrawn after the Mayor said he was uncomfortable with the author speaking in council-owned premises.
In response to a Freedom of Information request, the Council released correspondences revealing Sinclair was barred from his own book launch at Stoke Newington Library because he had criticised the Olympics.
In an email dated 24th September 2008, Head of Media Polly Rance wrote: “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 (sic.) 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…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.”
Emails released to the Citizen also reveal that the Council decided to un-invite Sinclair despite being issued the following warning in a “book launch risk analysis”: “Cancellation of a library event on the grounds of the legal content of a work runs contrary both the ethics (sic.) of the profession and to the principle of the Stock Acquisition Policy which states that Hackney will adhere to the CILIP Policy on Intellectual Freedom and Censorship. This policy has been signed off by the Lead Member for Culture.”
With a prescience verging on the prophetic, the risk analysis also warns that Sinclair might publicise the cancellation on BBC Radio Four (he did just that).
In addition, the analysis warns: “Given the high number of media professionals who live in the borough, the event is likely to get a good deal of publicity.”
Right again.