A government department has been accused of “squandering” taxpayers’ money on “whacky fringe events” after spending more than £1million at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Research shared with GB News shows productions supported by taxpayer money included A Northern Tranny Hootenanny, 2 Muslim 2 Furious, and Alison Spittle’s Fat Bitch Show, each of which received up to £2,500 in funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
The Adam Smith Institute (ASI) found the ministry headed up by Lisa Nandy provided support to the “Keep it Fringe Fund”, which has been responsible for supporting up to 360 shows.
Responding to the findings, Nigel Huddlestone, Shadow Culture Secretary, said: “Given that the government is whacking up taxes and the department is cutting support in other vital areas such as tourism promotion, DCMS needs to be very careful with every penny it spends.
“Many taxpayers will be surprised or alarmed by some of the acts that have received ‘Fringe’ money.”
The MP for Droitwich and Evesham fumed: “There’s a difference between nurturing creativity and new talent and deliberately courting controversy.
“It is important for the government to scrutinise, and if necessary, block, questionable arts grants – as Kemi Badenoch did when she intervened to stop taxpayer funding of the controversial band, Kneecap.”
This year’s Fringe has been shrouded in controversy after a Jewish comedian was barred from a venue at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe after attending a vigil for victims of the October 7 attacks.
A Northern Tranny Hootenanny was one of the productions that received funding
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Similar moves by other venues prompted comedians such as Rachel Creeger to warn of the increased challenges being faced by many Jewish performers at the Edinburgh fringe.
Speaking to GB News, Joanna Marchong, head of communications and external affairs of the Adam Smith Institute, said: “It’s extraordinary that Reeves is pleading poverty whilst squandering millions of pounds on whacky Fringe events.
“DCMS has spent millions funding ideological box ticking events at the Edinburgh Fringe festival at a time when families are bracing for yet another punishing budget.
“Every pound blown on ‘woke adjacent’ arts grants is a pound that could have relieved pressure on public services or gone towards scaling back the size of the fiscal black hole.”
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent more than £1million at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
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Ms Marchong added: “If ministers want credibility, they should rein in DCMS’s pet projects and apply the same fiscal discipline to their own departments that they demand from everyone else.”
This year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe has faced challenges such as increased costs for performers, crowded streets, and accommodation shortages.
Meanwhile, the long running “Funniest Joke” award was dropped from the 2025 festival after 18 years.
A DCMS spokesperson said: “The Keep it Fringe fund initiative has helped hundreds of artists to perform in front of larger audiences and has been a launchpad to future success.
“We want the arts to be open and accessible to #all and projects like this are crucial to breaking down barriers to opportunity to kickstart careers in our cultural and creative industries.”
GB News has approached the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for comment.