Reform UK summer party planned for Lancaster Brewery is cancelled by venue

The party – led by Nigel Farage – had made a booking which brewery boss Phil Simpson said had not been “identified as political” – something which goes aganist company policy.

The Stand Up To Racism Lancaster and Morecambe group posted on Facebook that it contacted the brewery, based at Lancaster Leisure Park in Wyresdale Road, last Thursday evening after hearing that Reform UK had planned to hold a summer party at the venue.

And on Friday, they announced that it had been cancelled.

The group posted: "Result! We found out yesterday afternoon that Reform UK announced its summer bash with VIP guest (wonder who that could be?) at Lancaster Brewery.

"Two SUTR members who live next to the brewery emailed at 10.30pm last night. Someone messaged workers at the brewery who in turn messaged the bookings manager and by 9am this morning the booking was cancelled.

"Seems Reform UK, who say they are for honesty and accountability, did not say who they were when they booked. The bookings manager thanked everyone for the heads up.”

Lancaster Brewery director Phil Simpson said they would make their policy on the issue clearer to avoid any future “misunderstandings”.

“We believe this was simply a misunderstanding,” he said. “The booking was made under the description of a “business event,” using a private email address and without clear details. At no point was it identified as political.

“Since 2016, we have had a firm policy of not hosting political events at any of our venues. We will be making this policy far more explicit going forward to ensure there is no ambiguity in future bookings.

“We are an inclusive and ethically minded business, and it is important to us that we remain independent of all party political affiliations.”

Reform UK county councillor for Skerton Martyn Sutton said: “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.”