Jeremy Corbyn Throws Weight Behind Hackney Music Venue Campaign
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has publicly endorsed a campaign to safeguard a historic London music venue, issuing a stark warning that the United Kingdom risks "losing out on a whole the next generation of musicians." The intervention comes as Hackney's iconic Moth Club battles a proposed residential development that threatens its future as a live music and nightlife space.
Iconic Venue Faces Existential Threat
The Moth Club, which originally opened in 1972 as a servicemen's club before transforming into a live music venue in 2015, has become a cultural cornerstone in Hackney. With capacity for approximately 300 spectators, the venue has hosted an impressive roster of world-renowned artists including Lady Gaga and Dave Grohl. The current campaign, which has garnered support from over 30,000 people and 100 artists including Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip and punk rockers Amyl and the Sniffers, opposes a proposed block of flats to be built adjacent to the venue.
Venue management argues that the development, featuring balconies overlooking the club's smoking area, would inevitably lead to noise complaints that could jeopardise their operating licence and ultimately render the venue unviable. A decision from Hackney Council on the planning application was anticipated in December, though the process remains ongoing.
Corbyn's Passionate Plea for Protection
Speaking at the venue during an event organised by the Music For The Many campaign in partnership with the Peace and Justice project, Independent MP for Islington North Jeremy Corbyn delivered a powerful address. "If we don't defend live music venues and keep them and make sure we can develop them, then we lose out on a whole the next generation of musicians," Corbyn told The Independent.
He elaborated on the broader societal impact, stating this would include "the musicians of tomorrow, the heart of the community, and we will be even more intensely stuck at home looking at computer screens rather than going out and socialising with people and making music together." Corbyn expressed frustration with the political establishment's approach, noting "I don't hear many of my colleagues in the members' tea room in parliament talking about it."
Political Criticism and Policy Proposals
When questioned about whether government ministers truly comprehend the UK music scene, the former Labour leader responded bluntly: "One or two of them do, most of them no." He described the current Labour government's stance on protecting music venues and nightlife as "contradictory," suggesting that while politicians might verbally support such venues, they fail to provide adequate legal and financial protections.
Corbyn acknowledged some positive steps, noting "The government has done the right thing in limiting the business rates on venues. That's good, that improves things," but argued for more substantial measures. His proposed solution includes granting local planning authorities greater powers to protect live music venues by formally listing them as protected entities within planning law. "So we say you can't touch that, it's a live music venue," he explained.
Council Response and Broader Context
Hackney Mayor Caroline Woodley has sought to reassure concerned parties, stating "As far as I'm concerned Moth Club will remain a treasured space for the Hackney community to gather." She emphasised that the council's planning authority must consider applications against established policies, including an 'agent of change' principle that places responsibility on new developments to mitigate noise impacts rather than forcing existing venues to alter their operations.
Edie Kench-Andrewes, who manages the venue, expressed concern that "it didn't seem like the council had seen the entire picture of what we were trying to communicate." She highlighted that the campaign represents broader issues, stating "It's not just us a petition and it's not just us trying to raise awareness of our own situation, but also bring light to many many closures of venues and hubs for people, and communities that have closed in the last however many years."
National Crisis for Grassroots Music
The struggle at Moth Club unfolds against a troubling national backdrop. According to the Music Venues Trust, 30 music venues across the UK permanently closed in 2025 alone, highlighting a systemic crisis for grassroots music spaces. This contrasts with recent initiatives from London Mayor Sadiq Khan, whose Nightlife Taskforce report identified Hackney as a cultural "hot spot" with venues among the capital's highest revenue generators.
Justine Simons OBE, London's deputy mayor for culture and the creative industries, acknowledged the venue's significance, stating "Moth has been part of Hackney's cultural fabric since 1972 and is one of London's most important grassroots venues supporting emerging artists, hosting major names and anchoring the local creative scene." She confirmed that City Hall has raised concerns about the planning applications' potential impact and remains engaged in discussions with the council and Music Venue Trust.
As the planning application remains active, Hackney Council has declined to comment further, while The Independent's request for comment from the Department for Culture, Music and Sport awaits response. The outcome of this battle will likely set important precedents for how the UK values and protects its cultural infrastructure against competing development pressures.
