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FABRIC'S LOCAL MP SPEAKS OUT IN SUPPORT OF CLUB

Emily Thornberry says closure "cannot be the answer"...

Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury and Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, has spoken publically in support of Fabric nightclub ahead of its licencing review tomorrow evening (6th September).

The world renowned venue had its licence suspended last month following the deaths of two 18-year-olds at the club over a nine-week period. In the time since, the club has seen untold support across social media platforms, with an online petition to #SaveFabric collecting over 113,000 signatures.

Following a written letter to the Islington Council review board to urge them to keep the club open, Fabric's local MP spoke out via Facebook, saying: "Fabric has huge cultural significance to an entire generation — a generation too often ignored and overlooked by politicians and policy makers." 

Thornberry explains that she understands that safety is of the utmost importance and that drug-use is rife within club culture, but adds: "we must guard against the assumption that dangerous drug use would cease simply if we were to close a nightclub like Fabric."

Continuing she cites the venue's stringent anti-drug and safety policies, including the on-site medics, large security force and drug seizure system. "Given this drug seizure programme was apparently developed in conjunction with the police, it is all the more shocking to discover that the logs of these confiscated drugs are now to be used as evidence against Fabric at the licensing committee," says Thornberry, adding that she was concerned to learn that police have not been prosecuting dealers caught by Fabric security staff.

Sharing the #SaveFabric petition, Thornberry concludes: "I sincerely believe that the closure of Fabric cannot be the answer. It may be easy and, in some quarters, it may be popular, but that does not make it right."