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Norwich Evening News AUGUST 23, 2024 - by Eleanor Storey
BRIAN ENO AMONG NORWICH SOUTH MP CLIVE LEWIS DONORS
A music legend behind some of the biggest hits of the last few decades is among the supporters of a Norfolk MP's activism.
Brian Eno, a musician and producer behind many Bowie, Talking Heads, and Coldplay records, has donated thousands of pounds to Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South.
Mr Eno, originally from Melton in Suffolk, has been engaging in political activism for many years and has released music criticising the Conservative government's management of the NHS and Brexit.
The former Roxy Music member donated £5,000 to be used in Norwich South following Mr Lewis' re-election in the constituency, his register of interests has revealed.
A spokesman for Mr Lewis said: "Eno has a long track record of advocating for human rights, democracy and the climate and environment.
"He backed Clive because he is a prominent campaigner for those causes as well."
The funds are expected to be used towards Mr Lewis' political campaigning in Norwich - as opposed to his local constituency work.
Mr Lewis is vocal about human rights issues and recently attended anti-fascism protests at the Brook Hotel in Bowthorpe and in Norwich city centre, organised in response to riots which broke out in parts of the UK following the killing of three young girls in Southport.
Recently, he has also faced criticism for a social media post in which he suggested the Israeli government was responsible for rising Islamophobia in the UK - resulting in calls for his suspension from the Labour Party.
Labour Against Antisemitism (LAAS) made an official complaint to UK Labour over Mr Lewis' comments about the war in Gaza, saying his post was "highly irresponsible" and breached the official definition of antisemitism.
However, it is understood no further action will be taken.
Mr Lewis responded on X, formerly Twitter, and said: "Combatting antisemitism and advocating for Palestinian human rights and addressing broader Islamophobia, are not mutually exclusive goals.
"We have a responsibility as politicians to ensure all minorities feel safe here in the UK and to advocate for the upholding of human rights abroad.
"Differences of opinion as how best to do this should, of course, always be encouraged.
"But attempting to shut down and silence those seeking to highlight these issues is a dangerous path and one that is fundamentally, wrong."
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