Streatham MP Chuka Umunna has voiced his support for the decision to postpone Lambeth’s showpiece festival.

The Shadow Business Secretary said officers and councillors at Lambeth Council had made the “right decision” to reschedule the Lambeth Country Show for September, following an outcry from residents.

He insisted that holding the event at the usual time in July would threaten the “safety” of the festival because of “exceptional burdens” on police due to the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee.

Mr Umunna, who supported the council’s original plans to scrap this year’s show, conceded his position would be ‘unpopular’ with some residents, but insisted he was acting in the “best interests” of his constituents.

He said: “I know many residents will be disappointed at missing out on the Show in July.

“However, I have adopted the position I think is in the best interests of my constituents given all of the information available to me. Whilst this may not always be popular, I stand by it.

“My primary concern has always been the safety of my constituents.”

He added that gang violence was a “particular problem” in the borough and said there could be increased risks of clashes between youths during the summer holidays because of police being overstretched.

He said: “Large scale events like the Country Show require a greater police presence and at a time – the summer – when incidents of anti-social behaviour and serious youth violence can be particularly prevalent.

“It is worth pointing out that the two constituents we have tragically lost to violent crime since my election – Zac Olumegbon and Nana Darko-Frempong – both lost their lives during the summer months.

“I have witnessed crowd trouble [at the Show] between two rival gangs three years ago.

“Hundreds of police had to intervene, dozens of arrests were made and families fled the area on that occasion.”

Tessa Jowell, MP for West Norwood and Dulwich, has also backed the council’s postponement of the show, which attracts about 180,000 people to Brockwell Park each year.

She said: “The Olympics is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I hope that everyone will understand that, for that reason alone, the cancellation of the show and the rescheduling for a smaller event later in the year is justified.

“There will be a great pressure on all our police resources and the show requires a great deal of policing - it will be back in full in 2013.”

Council bosses originally claimed the show had been cancelled following ‘police advice’ but council leader Steve Reed has since said the decision to postpone the show until September on a smaller scale was “always” the council’s intention.

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