Why are the far right claiming ‘Muslim-controlled’ Sheffield has ‘cancelled Christmas?’

Good afternoon readers — and welcome to this week’s Monday briefing.

We had a lump in our throats, and maybe even a tear in our eyes after the very lovely comments we received on our piece yesterday, which told the inside story of our investigation into Andrew Milne. “You are doing a great service to the community, with clarity and courage,” said Ana. “We need much more fearlessness in the face of intimidation,” said David G.

Sometimes it’s worth the risk

“We will definitely bring proceedings for Defamation and Malicious Falsehood if you publish such complete and malicious lies.”

Sheffield TribuneDaniel Timms

Even more moving was the number of people commenting to say they would help fund our legal defence if needed. Obviously we hope it doesn’t come to that, but the fact they would even say such a thing shows what a special relationship we have with our readers. Thank you.

Over the weekend there was more organisation from locals. We spoke to Dirk Aderhold, who received a letter from Milne (but hasn't paid) and is now co-ordinating a WhatsApp group with other recipients. There is a sub-group including those who have paid Milne, who are now looking to club together and get legal representation to sue for their money back. Aderhold is also compiling a dossier of quotes from Milne's letters for the event of any case coming to trial. "If ever anyone needed it, they could say 'here judge, do you think this guy is serious?'", Aderhold told us.

We’ve also been really heartened by the many people who have joined to support our work. By our count, 115 of you have seen our reporting on Andrew Milne and decided that’s the kind of journalism you want to back.

The big picture: Remembrance Sunday 🌹

Dave, aka the Steel City Snapper, captured this photo from the annual Remembrance Sunday service at Barkers Pool. Those gathered held a two-minute silence at 11am to remember the fallen, after which wreaths were laid at the war memorial by local politicians, armed forces representatives and faith leaders.

The big story: Why are the far right claiming ‘Muslim-controlled’ Sheffield has ‘cancelled Christmas?’

Top line: According to several hugely popular accounts on X (formerly Twitter), “Muslim-controlled” Sheffield has “cancelled Christmas”. Why doesn’t the platform do more about blatant misinformation?

Christmas is cancelled: On Saturday several X accounts with tens of thousands of followers posted that Sheffield would not have a Christmas light switch on event this year due to “the Islamification of the UK”.

• Basil the Great (followers 200,000) posted that “we’re losing everything we hold dear” and “I’m sure that the fact they have a Muslim mayor has nothing to do with it either” while Britain is Broken (40,000) posted that “our traditions are being eroded”.
• The claims were repeated on X by the convicted criminal Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, who has a massive 1.7 million followers. However, he later deleted the post.

What’s the truth? Last week, Sheffield council announced their plans for Christmas. As well as more than 50 wooden cabins in the Christmas Markets, there will also be four bars including the giant Alpine Bar at the Peace Gardens and one specialising in mulled wine. 

However, for the third year in a row, they said there would be no Christmas lights turn on event. In previous years the event has been shelved due to ongoing work on Fargate and Town Hall Square, but this year the council said safety concerns over having so many people in the city centre for one event meant they opted for a weekend of events instead. 

Councillor Ibby Ullah, the deputy chair of the council’s economic development, skills and culture committee, told The Star “Sheffield has not hosted a Christmas light switch-on for the past few years, which has been due to safety concerns around hosting a large-scale event with a high footfall over a short period of time.” Responding to the misleading posts on X, Sheffield Central MP Abtisam Mohamed said the Christmas lights were going up like they do every year. “Stop peddling racist nonsense and check the facts,” she added.

Tenconi in town: The disinformation campaign coincidentally happened on the same day that a far-right rally marched through Sheffield. The rally was organised by UKIP, which since it was led by Nigel Farage before the Brexit referendum has morphed into a nationalist party that draws heavily on Christian symbols, led by Nick Tenconi. Earlier this year, Tenconi was filmed performing what appeared to be a Nazi salute at a rally in Portsmouth (Tenconi denied this).

• Around 100 demonstrators and YouTubers gathered in Tudor Square, before Tenconi arrived flanked by wooden crosses and then read out the Lord’s Prayer. 
• As they marched down Arundel Gate towards Blonk Street off the Wicker, they were met by groups of counter demonstrators, with some scuffles ensuing.
• The UKIP protesters were kept on Blonk Street until 3pm, while a counter demonstration around 10 times the size was kept on Castlegate.

Weaponising social media: A nine-month-long data investigation by Sky News found that X owner Elon Musk uses the platform he owns to boost the British right. Earlier this year X was used to falsely claim that the new Lord Mayor of Rotherham Rukhsana Ismail gave her maiden speech on entering the role in Urdu as she couldn't speak English. In fact she was speaking to a Pakistani TV station and gave her speech in English. 

Our take: Tabloid “Christmas is cancelled” stories come around every year, but this campaign of misinformation is something altogether darker. The fact that it coincided with the march through the city centre makes the current moment feel particularly disturbing.

Your Tribune briefing 🗞️

How British universities can resist the long arm of China 🇨🇳 In last Wednesday’s edition of The Times, security expert Edward Lucas responded to the news that Sheffield Hallam temporarily halted research critical of China after pressure from the country’s authorities, which has led to the university being investigated by counter-terrorism police. He argues Hallam is far from an isolated case. “38 per cent of the British scholars surveyed said university bureaucrats’ concerns hampered research and teaching of sensitive issues,” he wrote, adding: “Universities’ cowardice and cupidity stems from a system created by past governments which told them to behave like businesses.” He added that the Office for Students was now “waging war on the 20-odd opaque and sinister Confucius Institutes,” including the one at the University of Sheffield. 

Party interested in buying Sheffield Wednesday has visited Hillsborough ⚽ Seven parties interested in purchasing the Owls have already presented proof they have the money necessary to buy the club — £50m — while one was given a tour of the stadium and training grounds last week. Joint administrator Kris Wigfield said: “They’ve all made money running businesses, they’ve all got cash, so whoever it ends up being, we’ll definitely be in a much better position than we have been in the last few years.” Individuals rumoured to have expressed interest include Ryan Howsman, the owner of gold’s Legends Tour, as well as former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, US billionaire John McEvoy and Barney Hussey-Yeo, founder of the Cleo fintech company. 

Major £12.8m programme of Supertram investment completed 🚋 A year-long project to improve the Supertram network after it was brought back into public control is now complete, which included replacing over 3.8km of rail and work to build a new tram/train station in Rotherham, due to open early next year. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, led by Mayor Oliver Coppard, plans to invest over £110m in the tram network by 2027. However, as we reported in early 2024, the parts of South Yorkshire that don’t currently benefit from the tram network — Doncaster and Barnsley — have made it clear they expect something in return for the money they’re pouring in.

The weekly Whitworth ✍️

Cartoonist James Whitworth with his take on our investigation about Andrew Milne and leasehold properties in Sheffield. Just a thought.

Home of the week 🏡

This three bedroom home in Gleadless has a solar-panelled roof, French doors opening up to a lush garden and an open plan kitchen. £230,000.

Things to do 📆

Philosophy 🏛️ On Tuesday, join Weston Park Museum for an informal but in-depth conversation about museums and philosophy. As part of a group, you’ll explore Sheffield Museums’ collections and consider how they resonate today. Enjoy exploring ideas with others in a setting steeped in history. The free two-hour session begins at 6pm.

Theatre 🎭 Starting on Wednesday at St John’s Church Hall, the Totley Operatic and Dramatic Society (TOADS) present their Christmas production Sleighed to Death!, a fun-filled whodunnit set on Christmas Eve in an English manor house. Performances run from Wednesday 12th to Saturday 15th November. Weekdays at 7.30pm, Saturday at 2.30pm only. Tickets are £7 or £6 for concessions. To book, email tickets@toads-drama.co.uk.

Technology 🤖 On Thursday, join the Being Human Festival at the National Videogames Museum for a thought-provoking event about how technological innovation challenges our ideas of what it is to be human. Using examples from literature, film and videogames, you’ll discuss how digital media influence and shape our everyday lives, and share conversations about AI, internet culture, and the future of identity. The event is free and begins at 5.30pm.