PRESSURE was being put on Liverpool's artistic community last night to pull out of events organised in honour of Condoleezza Rice's visit to Liverpool.
Anti-war protesters have written letters urging the city's musicians to refuse to play in a concert where the US Secretary of State will be guest of honour, at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall later this month.
Yesterday, it emerged a letter had been sent to Liverpool poet Roger McGough, who is billed to perform at the event alongside the RLPO, urging him to think again.
It also emerged the city's ruling Liberal Democrat group has agreed council leader Warren Bradley will meet the chairman of Merseyside's Stop the War Coalition tomorrow to discuss their approach to the visit.
On Monday, the Daily Post revealed Cllr Bradley is to confront Ms Rice about the war in Iraq, saying he could not welcome her to the city with open arms, given her role in the conflict.
Cllr Bradley said he wanted to meet Mr Holt to explain why he felt the need to meet Ms Rice, despite being supported by the national Lib-Dems in taking an anti-war stance.
He said: "If Mr Holt raises any pertinent points, that will form part of the letter I will hand to Condoleezza Rice's consort."
Ms Rice, who announced she was a big fan of the Beatles, is preparing to come to the city as guest of Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. While here, she will also take a tour of Sir Paul
McCartney's fame school, the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
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