Overview

• Ian Comfort wrote to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy this week requesting urgent financial support to prevent the carnival’s cancellation.
• Campaigners including Jacqueline McKenzie and Professor Patrick Vernon emphasise the event’s national and international significance.
• The threat to the carnival adds further grievance for the Windrush Generation still seeking justice after the Home Office scandal.
• Safety assessments have flagged risks posed by crowds of around two million, prompting City Hall to coordinate emergency planning.
• The carnival’s 70th anniversary in 2025 highlights its role as a symbol of unity, creativity, and diversity in Britain.