Bonfire fright: Council gives Guy Fawkes new name

A London council’s plan to rename its official Guy Fawkes night fireworks display was yesterday branded “political correctness gone mad”.

Southwark wants to dispense with the traditional name and call its £55,000 event “The Colour Thief: A Winter Extravaganza Celebrating The Changing Of The Seasons”.

But the proposals have been ridiculed by opponents, who said the Labour-run council’s plans were “bonkers”.

The event, due to take place in Dulwich Park on November 4, is the only official fireworks display this year in the borough after the number of public events was slashed from 12 to three because of funding cuts.

But yesterday council bosses were in disarray over the plans in the face of mounting criticism. A spokesman initially claimed there was no re-branding of the display, and that this year’s fireworks night would just be around the “theme” of The Colour Thief.

But Veronica Ward, Southwark’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, insisted that the new name was correct and that it was chosen as they were combining a number of festivals into one because of the cuts.

She said: “It is shorthand (for fireworks night). It is an event and festival around an artistic proposal that involves some fireworks.” She added there was no backtracking over the name, and that the confusion around the one-hour event was “unfortunate”.

A public consultation over the proposals is now taking place. James Barber, Liberal Democrat councillor for East Dulwich, said he could not believe the plans. “You could not make it up,” he said.

“They have decided that bonfire night is just not their thing – it is political correctness gone mad.” Lib-Dem Dulwich councillor Robin Crookshank Hilton claimed the council was trying to cover up the gaffe after underestimating opposition to changing the name.

In 2005 Lambeth caused anger when it renamed its Christmas lights “winter lights”.

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