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‘People of Bristol, rise up and overthrow your foolish council’
Bestselling author Neil Gaiman has pledged his support for Bristol libraries’ fight for survival, while also encouraging a revolution.
Responding to a tweet from the campaign group committed to saving Redland Library, the author of books including Coraline, Stardust and The Sandman said: “Good luck. (Also, People of Bristol, rise up and overthrow your foolish council)”
He is not the first celebrity backer of Redland Library’s campaign to remain open in the face of council cuts.
On the same day that he revealed he is writing a stage version of Maid Marian, Bristol City fan Tony Robinson said, when asked would he support the library’s fight, said: “Would stop closing Bristol’s Libraries, you stupid bastards do?”
In response, Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy tweeted in defence of her Labour colleagues in City Hall: “Or ‘stop slashing councils’ budgets to the nth degree so they can afford to keep libraries open’? Bristol Council isn’t doing any of this out of choice. There is no money.”
She added: “And the councillors/ Mayor are really decent people being put in an almost impossible situation. None of them deserve to be called ‘bastards’.”
Friends of Redland Library are hosting an event at Redland Library on Tuesday, February 20 at 7pm on books and journalism. A panel made up of Bristol24/7 Editor Martin Booth, Bristol Post editor Mike Norton and UWE Bristol journalism professor Phil Chamberlain will be discussing their favourite books about journalism. The evening starts at 7pm and tickets cost just £3.
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