Apparently Sheffield Council has decided to ban poet, broadcaster and comedian, Ian McMillan, from speaking in front of children, because of concerns over ‘political comments’.
The event, conceived as a fun and creative way of highlighting the value of public libraries, appears to have caused great concern for the council, with the decision over whether it should be allowed to go ahead passed all the way up to members of the senior management. We view this as a misguided and heavy-handed attempt to silence those of us who want to stand up for our library service and oppose the potentially devastating public sector cuts.
‘Libraries are a vital and irreplaceable part of a cultured and civilised society, and one of the few public places left where you don’t have to pay to get in…’ Ian McMillan
You wouldn’t have thought this sort of thing went on these days (legally speaking). Here is Sheffield City Council’s Library feedback form, should you wish to make a comment.
(Hat tip to Matt Keefe.)
Won’t somebody *please* think of the children?
What a crass decision.
I used to hear adults saying political things all the time when I was a child, and all it’s done is make me question what I’m told and why things are happening.
Oh… wait. I see their problem.
That’s pretty low to ban someone for being understandably critical of a controversial budget “problem.”