Business leader backs embattled Culture Company chief

Aug 23 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

Business leader backs embattled Culture Company chief

THE leader of business lobbying group Downtown Liverpool in Business last night backed the embattled chief executive of the Culture Company.

Frank McKenna, chairman of Downtown Liverpool in Business, said suggestions to replace Jason Harborow with little over 100 days before Capital of Culture year was “not sensible”.

Yesterday the Daily Post revealed how council leader Warren Bradley and Mr Harborow have not spoken for around a month, apart from passing civilities at functions. The rift between the pair deepened after the emergence of an email in which Cllr Bradley called for Mr Harborow to be relieved of his duties.

Mr Harborow has vowed to continue despite the high profile cancellation of the outdoor element of the Mathew Street Festival on health and safety grounds.

Mr McKenna said: “Who would take over, indeed who would want to take over, at this late stage? He has had a difficult job, not helped by the political shenanigans that, unfortunately, seem to continue to blight the management of our city.”

He did say that Mr Harborow should be relieved of his duties as executive director of culture, media and sport at the council so he could fully concentrate on Capital of Culture.

Margaret Hodge, Minister for Culture, Creative Indus-tries & Tourism, visited Liverpool yesterday and also spoke about the situation regarding Capital of Culture.

“I have confidence – the excitement is for Liverpool people and it will put the city on a international stage,” she said.

“We just have to keep learning from problems that arise,”she added.

Cllr Joe Anderson said: “This situation cannot be allowed to fester on. We can’t allow this chaos to continue.”