Overview
- The shadow culture secretary’s letter on Monday urged Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to investigate Misan Harriman’s suitability and asked Arts Council England to review its funding of the Southbank Centre.
- The Charity Commission confirmed it is assessing concerns that the chair breached charity rules by publicly supporting the Green Party during local elections.
- Complaints to the press regulator IPSO over coverage of the story have been reported at over 97,000 and close to 98,000, while a counter-letter supporting Harriman has topped 21,000 signatures from public figures.
- The row stems from his Instagram posts that questioned media focus after the Golders Green knife attacks and cited a Susan Sontag quote after Reform UK’s local-election gains, allegations he rejects.
- The Southbank Centre, which received about £18 million in public funds last year, says trustees have a right to lawful free speech, condemns antisemitism, and says Harriman remains in his role.