Brighton pavilion backdrop at Labour conference sparks fury among people who are mistaking it for a mosque

The Brighton pavilion is shown on a backdrop as shadow chancellor John McDonnell delivers his speech at the Labour conference
REUTERS
Hatty Collier26 September 2017
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Labour’s Brighton Pavilion backdrop at their party conference has sparked an outcry among people who mistook it for an image of a mosque.

The backdrop on the main conference stage features a pink silhouette of the seaside town’s most famous landmark the Royal Pavilion.

But Labour faced a backlash on social media from people who decided the logo looked like the outline of a mosque.

The building was actually a seaside retreat for King George IV and was transformed from a modest farmhouse into the building it is today from 1787 to 1822.

The Royal Pavilion in Brighton
Shutterstock / Kuo Yi-En

The current appearance of the building was based on Indian architecture and is the work of designer John Nash, who extended it from 1815 to 1822.

After George’s death, it went on to become a civic building and was also used as a hospital in World War One.

Guardian reporter Peter Walker had noted that it was “only a matter of time before some idiot says the Labour-in-Brighton conference logo shows a mosque”.

One man, who claimed to be a Labour supporter, wrote: “Why is there a mosque on the LabourConference2017 poster. As a Labour voter I am greatly offended.”

Another said: “Is that a mosque behind the Labour logo?”

One woman tweeted: “Maybe not a great idea to have a mosque as your backdrop given the Islamic threat. #justsaying.”

A man, tweeting under the name Paul, said: “Am I seeing things or is that a picture of a fkin mosque at the Labour conference?”

Another commented: “Tells you everything you need to know about the Far Left Labour Party.”

In response, many other people took to Twitter to try to set the record straight.

It is not the first time the pavilion has caused confusion.

Two years ago, The Times reported that aides to ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband had vetoed a photoshoot outside the building in case people confused it for a mosque.

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