Khan destroys another British tradition, replacing it with a political propaganda message
Dripping with propaganda, this years NYW fireworks show made me turn away from watching one of my families staple New Years traditions for 20 years, and I am not the only one thinking the same.
Lets get one thing out of the way, I have long despised Sadiq Khan. Before the mad left start screaming it’s because of his religion, it’s not, it’s his deplorable behaviour. A quick Google or YouTube search will provide plenty of examples of campaign promises not met, lying continually about grooming gangs, being selective on crime figures, avoiding answering any questions, and openly giving priority to certain communities in London.
My main beef with Khan is his treatment of women, especially Susan Hall asking him about the rape gangs earlier in 2025 where he repeatedly avoided answering the question and claimed he didn’t know what a grooming gang was. Then we have a number of police whistleblowers exposing he knew of the gangs, then suddenly 9000 cases are being reexamined but again he avoids answering the questions. But thinking logically, what do you expect from a man whom was the first person a 9/11 terrorist wanted to get in contact with to defend him.
But after the New Years debacle in London, I utterly detest this man even more. Organised under his oversight and knowledge of the content, the show was a propaganda piece for Labour and their ideology, rather than a unifying celebration for all, regardless of political views.
The EU flag shown twice before our own
The inclusion of the European Union flag in the display before our own was deplorable. The UK voted to leave 10 years ago and officially left the EU in 2020 after years of divisive bitter Brexit negotiations. This was a deliberate disregard for British sovereignty, voters opinions but who cares, it just follows Labour and Khan’s pushing of a pro-EU propaganda.
Unforgivable manipulation of the Israeli flag
The Star of David, the central emblem of the Jewish people, was deliberately erased from the flag. After everything that Jews have had to put up with this year including the terrorist attack in the UK, to remove this is beyond disgusting.
City officials denied any intentional removal, stating it was a visual effect applied uniformly to all flags, but the backlash was swift. Former Israeli officials and online commentators decried it as selective editing, just following on with the broader political biases in the show’s messaging…
Commercial advert for the Wicked movie
Smack bang on the middle of the London Eye at one point, was what felt like an advert for the movie Wicked. What on earth was that doing in the middle of a firework display? I hope that someone enters a FOI request to see if there were any kickbacks for this, but as we know from Rupert Lowe submitting a FOI to the Home Office recently, they will just lie until the truth is outed by a whistleblower.
If this was celebrating Britain, where was Ozzy?
There was notable backlash on social media regarding the absence of a tribute to British rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away in 2025. Following on from Ozzy we also lost Chris Rea, Patricia Routledge and Prunella Scales.
Imagine what we could have done with that content. Ozzy rock legend track to fireworks with strong women in the London Eye like Hyacinth Bucket and Sybil Fawlty. Much better than an advert for Wicked or a flag for a union we are no longer part of.
Commercialisation
For the first time in years, access to prime viewing spots along the Thames required tickets costing up to £45 (or even £55 in some cases). Attendees reported being “penned in like sheep” for hours, with limited facilities, overpriced food, no alcohol allowed, and subpar views despite the price. Complaints highlighted inadequate security, insufficient toilets, and a sense of being mugged by the organisers. This shift from free public access is just elitist, especially amid cost-of-living pressures from this government with all their new £100bn+ in taxes, turning a communal tradition into a commercialised event.
Primrose Hill: Closure of a beloved free spot
The decision to fence off Primrose Hill, a popular, free vantage point for families and locals, infuriated residents and visitors alike. Opaque barriers and police presence were installed to prevent overcrowding, citing safety concerns after past incidents. This is just grotesque and miserly, it unnecessarily restricted public spaces on a night meant for joy for the commercialism of the event. While officials emphasised risk management it was simply a part of a broader trend towards the monetisation of the celebrations, which they are right, forcing people to pay to watch.
Overtly left wing political messaging
The show’s heavy emphasis on themes like diversity, inclusion, and social justice drew ire for turning a festive event into a further propaganda piece. Even Khan’s voiceovers and “gangster rap” style audio were cringe worthy and dated, with mash-ups involving artists like Fatboy Slim who is a legend, is a bit out of touch for 2025. It was simply the prioritisation of political lectures and commercialisation over pure entertainment. Overall, it was uncreative, repetitive, and more suited for TV than live audiences, leaving many feeling the fireworks were secondary to the messaging.
Overall disappointment
Beyond the headlines, other criticisms piled on. Environmentalists pointed out the hypocrisy: Khan’s anti-car policies aim to reduce pollution, yet the 12-minute barrage filled the air with sulfur and smoke. The display itself was panned for being “smoky” with too much repetition in laser effects and fireworks, lacking innovation.
Some even contrasted it unfavourably with Ramadan fireworks, calling the NYE show an “expensive disaster” and London a “laughing stock.” Taxpayer costs, frostbite-inducing waits, and the event’s focus on TV broadcasts over in-person experience rounded out the complaints.
In the end, what should have been a dazzling kickoff to 2026 became a symbol of division and political ideology, not a fun start to the New Year and simple apolitical, accessible fun for all.