'Notting Hill Carnival's Success Shows That Hate and Division Will Never Win'
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"This weekend, West London roared back to life for Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest street party. And what a party it was: Mas Bands paraded in outfits months in the making, every jewel and feather stitched or glued by hand; sound systems pumped out soul and ska, as revellers danced the days away to dancehall, dub, and drum and bass; smiles on their faces, children paraded hand in hand with their parents on the Sunday afternoon, all of them proud of their part in this extraordinary event.
Attracting visitors from around the world and generating almost £400m for our economy, Carnival is a celebration of sheer, unadulterated joy. Today, this festival of music, food and fashion is an unforgettable part of our country's cultural fabric. But it's more than that, too; born of protest and resistance, it's a symbol of our capital city's diversity, and a sign of how far we've come.
When the Carnival began in the 1950s, organisers hoped that it could unite a community torn apart by racist riots. In the decades since, generations of people from our Black and Caribbean communities have brought their own carnival traditions to the streets of Notting Hill, and the event has gone from strength to strength.
EXCLUSIVE
'These People Can't Stand What London Represents… It Makes a Mockery of their Entire Worldview'
Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, addresses the increasing number of claims by those in the media and politics of the capital city's apparent decline
Sadiq Khan
Today, Carnival is the second largest street party in the world. It's a place where everyone is welcome, no matter their colour, creed, or culture. Just like the London I know, it's loud, proud - and people love it. It embodies the reason why so many choose to call our capital city home: our shared belief that, no matter who you are, you are loved and wanted here.
Wherever you go in the capital, that ethos of openness and inclusivity is impossible to ignore. Last month, I joined tens of thousands for Pride. At a time when many seek to turn back the clock on the freedoms which LGBT+ people have fought so hard for, Londoners stood defiant. Whether they were voguing with drag queens or dancing to Chaka Khan, their message was clear: faced with fear and division, love and solidarity will always win.
Carnival captures our city's indomitable spirit. As summer draws to a close, the success of this year's event is also yet more evidence that, when it comes to cultural clout, there's no match for London. In the last few months, millions have filled our sold-out stadiums and festivals to listen to some of the biggest names in music, swinging in time with Beyonce's country ballads and singing along to old Coldplay classics.
Over 500,000 came to London for the biggest Wimbledon ever, joining fans of cricket, netball, athletics, and Formula E for what has been a superb season of sport in the capital. And, in the last few weeks, City Hall's 'Summer Streets Fund' has seen thousands of Londoners flock to car-free al fresco hotspots to drink, dine and dance in the sun. From restaurants in Covent Garden and bars in Shoreditch to street markets in Leyton and DJ sets in Brixton, London has come alive.
I might be biased, but I think the case is clear: the greatest city in the world is better than ever. Speak to any of the Londoners who lined the streets of Notting Hill this weekend, and they'll tell you that our city's success story hasn't happened by accident. Today, London is thriving because of the vibrant, multicultural community we have built together. Because we believe that our diversity is a strength to be celebrated, not a weakness to be hidden.
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"This weekend, West London roared back to life for Notting Hill Carnival, Europe's largest street party. And what a party it was: Mas Bands paraded in outfits months in the making, every jewel and feather stitched or glued by hand; sound systems pumped out soul and ska, as revellers danced the days away to dancehall, dub, and drum and bass; smiles on their faces, children paraded hand in hand with their parents on the Sunday afternoon, all of them proud of their part in this extraordinary event.
Attracting visitors from around the world and generating almost £400m for our economy, Carnival is a celebration of sheer, unadulterated joy. Today, this festival of music, food and fashion is an unforgettable part of our country's cultural fabric. But it's more than that, too; born of protest and resistance, it's a symbol of our capital city's diversity, and a sign of how far we've come.
When the Carnival began in the 1950s, organisers hoped that it could unite a community torn apart by racist riots. In the decades since, generations of people from our Black and Caribbean communities have brought their own carnival traditions to the streets of Notting Hill, and the event has gone from strength to strength.
EXCLUSIVE
'These People Can't Stand What London Represents… It Makes a Mockery of their Entire Worldview'
Sadiq Khan, the Labour Mayor of London, addresses the increasing number of claims by those in the media and politics of the capital city's apparent decline
Sadiq Khan
Today, Carnival is the second largest street party in the world. It's a place where everyone is welcome, no matter their colour, creed, or culture. Just like the London I know, it's loud, proud - and people love it. It embodies the reason why so many choose to call our capital city home: our shared belief that, no matter who you are, you are loved and wanted here.
Wherever you go in the capital, that ethos of openness and inclusivity is impossible to ignore. Last month, I joined tens of thousands for Pride. At a time when many seek to turn back the clock on the freedoms which LGBT+ people have fought so hard for, Londoners stood defiant. Whether they were voguing with drag queens or dancing to Chaka Khan, their message was clear: faced with fear and division, love and solidarity will always win.
Carnival captures our city's indomitable spirit. As summer draws to a close, the success of this year's event is also yet more evidence that, when it comes to cultural clout, there's no match for London. In the last few months, millions have filled our sold-out stadiums and festivals to listen to some of the biggest names in music, swinging in time with Beyonce's country ballads and singing along to old Coldplay classics.
Over 500,000 came to London for the biggest Wimbledon ever, joining fans of cricket, netball, athletics, and Formula E for what has been a superb season of sport in the capital. And, in the last few weeks, City Hall's 'Summer Streets Fund' has seen thousands of Londoners flock to car-free al fresco hotspots to drink, dine and dance in the sun. From restaurants in Covent Garden and bars in Shoreditch to street markets in Leyton and DJ sets in Brixton, London has come alive.
I might be biased, but I think the case is clear: the greatest city in the world is better than ever. Speak to any of the Londoners who lined the streets of Notting Hill this weekend, and they'll tell you that our city's success story hasn't happened by accident. Today, London is thriving because of the vibrant, multicultural community we have built together. Because we believe that our diversity is a strength to be celebrated, not a weakness to be hidden.
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Receive the monthly Byline Times newspaper and help to support fearless, independent journalism that breaks stories, shapes the...
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