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🚨 Cllr Andrew Harrison’s Facebook Post

Andrew Harrison recently posted on Facebook:

Having seen this the public need to make their own mind up about the agenda of the organisers. This is a celebration of miners heritage and not a propaganda platform for HAMAS. What has the world come to? They have told REFORM Councillors they are not welcome. Well Heres a thing… no one is going to stop any person from a mining village going into our own City. A disgrace and shame on you. Having spoken to lots of miners they are appalled by this decision that may invite anarchists, terror supporters and trouble makers to our city. Are any Veterans invited as VIP?? Any sporting local heroes? Any town Mayors? Read the full story here👉

This post was written in response to news that the Palestinian ambassador has been invited to the Durham Miners’ Gala. Harrison’s statements raise multiple issues:

⚖️ Potential Defamation

Harrison’s post labels the miners’ gala as a “propaganda platform for HAMAS.” Hamas is designated as a terrorist organisation in many countries. Suggesting that the event’s organisers are connected to, or supportive of, Hamas is a serious allegation. No evidence is provided to substantiate this claim, which risks being defamatory and damaging to the reputations of those involved in organising the event.

🧨 Community Division

The post claims that excluding REFORM councillors could “invite anarchists, terror supporters and trouble makers” to the city. Such language casts the gala as a security threat and implies that those attending or speaking are dangerous. This can fuel division, polarise opinion, and portray a cultural event as a source of potential violence.

☪️ Borderline Islamophobia

By linking the Palestinian ambassador’s attendance to Hamas, the post risks perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Palestinians and, more broadly, Muslim communities. It frames a diplomatic or cultural invitation as evidence of extremist sympathies. This conflation can spread prejudice and foster suspicion towards people based on nationality, religion, or perceived political affiliations.

🗞️ Misinformation and Speculation

Harrison’s questions — “Are any Veterans invited as VIP? Any sporting local heroes? Any town Mayors?” — imply that deserving local figures have been excluded in favour of controversial guests. However, no details are given about who else has been invited to the gala. This speculative tone can mislead readers and create a false impression of bias or secrecy in the event’s organisation.

🔥 Tone and Language

The language used in the post is emotionally charged, with phrases like “A disgrace and shame on you,” designed to provoke strong reactions. This further inflames debate and can encourage hostility towards both the gala organisers and attendees.

A formal complaint has been submitted regarding the content of Harrison’s post.