by Charlotte Gill, The Daily Sceptic
Should government accounts be able to block people on X? It is a question I was forced to return to this week after finding out I am blocked by the Mayor of London’s Culture Team – an account that many people may not know exists. I am also blocked by the Green Party, Islington Council (my former council) and the Labour MPs Chris Bryant and Torsten Bell, among countless others.
I believe the Culture Team account didn’t like me drawing attention to an event they advertised about “queer birding”, which is part of “Haringey Unearthed”: “a grants programme delivered as part of Haringey’s London Borough of Culture.”
The Mayor of London has awarded £500,000 to “Haringey Unearthed” – one of the most ‘woke’ programmes I have ever seen, pitched at “groups that have been historically underrepresented, including Latine, Black British, African and Caribbean communities, people of Turkish and/or Kurdish heritage, LGBTQI+ communities, disabled people, children and young people and over 65s.”
Applicants were also told that they must “respond to at least one of the following themes”, including the climate and “creative health” – another rabbit hole for another day.
Announcing the winners of “Unearthed Round 1”, Haringey said that its “decision-making panel” had received 184 applications, and posted information about the winners.
These included “Queer Birders London”, “an inclusive LGBTQ+ birding group helping people connect with nature, their local environment and each other”…