Labour slams Royal Pavilion Trust following CEO visit to Saudi Arabia

The deputy Labour leader on Brighton council has criticised the Royal Pavilion and Museum Trust (RPMT) after its CEO Hedley Swain's trip for a "morally bankrupt" cultural initiative.

Mr Swain was reportedly photographed by the Saudi Gazette two days after the Kingdom announced 81 executions in one day. 

At a full council meeting Cllr Amanda Evans asked whether the leader of the council thought the visit was appropriate.

Councillor Amanda Evans, Labour Deputy Leader

She said: “Since I asked the question, I have been shown a number of emails by whistle-blowers working in several different departments and locations at the RPMT, all of them utterly outraged at the behaviour of the CEO in agreeing to go on this trip, and pointing out how it will damage the reputation of both the Royal Pavilion Museum Trust and that of the city more widely.

“As a City of Sanctuary, proud of our diversity and our record in seeking to increase equality and protect the vulnerable, I don’t want to see us endorsing cultural twinning with a state committing atrocities against women and minorities in their own state and civilians in others, and I would expect our council leadership to take the same stance.” 

RPMT CEO Hedley Swain

In a statement to The Argus a spokesman for RPMT said: “Hedley Swain visited Saudi Arabia in March as part of a cultural delegation at the invitation of the British Council. 

“He was part of a group of delegates including other major UK institutions including the British Museum, Science Museum and National Archive. 

“As a leading museum professional Hedley has been involved in other British Council delegations in the past. 

“Hedley was pleased to undertake the trip to meet Saudi museum, cultural, heritage and artistic professionals and see first-hand the role arts, culture and museums are playing in Saudi. 

“There is no question of any formal relationships with Saudi as a result of the visit. 

“Hedley is very happy to discuss the visit with staff and with Cllr Evans.”

Cllr Evans said she was “shocked” at the “shrug of the shoulders” response from Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty.

She said: “The council leader sent me a one line email explaining it was a diplomatic, not an economic trip, and that the RPMT CEO would be happy to speak to me about it.”

Cllr Mac Cafferty told The Argus he had made it clear to Mr Swain that he had concerns regarding the trip due to the state’s “appalling” human rights record.

He said: “I felt this was important as a trustee of the Royal Pavilion Board and in my role as council leader.

 "Brighton and Hove has a proud history of providing sanctuary to refugees often fleeing war and persecution and is committed to building a culture of welcome.”

He added that the management of the Royal Pavilion and Museums was transferred to the Royal Pavilion and Museum’s Trust in 2020, therefore questions relating to the trip fundamentally need to be raised with the Trust.