POET Roger McGough has pulled out of a Liverpool gala performance in honour of American secretary of state Condoleezza Rice.
Mr McGough, a Freeman of the City, said he had "no appetite for introducing an event that attracts anti-war protesters from London and divides rather than unites public enthusiasm locally."
He said the celebration of the city's cultural life had "turned into a single issue debate on the rights and wrongs of the Iraq war."
Roger McGough had been due to host a celebration concert for Ms Rice at the Philharmonic Hall.
Wavertree MP Jane Kennedy said today she was 'disappointed' at his decision.
And she warned: "Liverpool is in danger of letting itself down in the eyes of the world's press.
"Ms Rice will have international media with her and is being brought to Liverpool by the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, because he believes it's a place worth seeing."
But today Michael Elliott, chief executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society, insisted "the show goes on".
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