ECHO readers have thrown their support behind a father who said his three-year-old son burst into tears after being banned from an event and campsite for being from Liverpool.
Peter Jordan from Walton had planned to go to the Billing Off Road Show in Northampton with his family.
He traveled more than 250 miles to the event where thousands of Land Rover and auto enthusiasts gather for an annual off-road auto show.
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In addition to watching cars at a number of off-road courses and demonstrations, visitors can also spend the night at the on-site campsite.
However, when Peter showed up for the Billing Road Show, he claimed he had been refused entry for being a “scouser” despite paying for a ticket and parking space.
After being denied entry, he said his son had “cried all weekend” and that he had met other Liverpool families at a nearby location who also turned their backs.
Campsite at the 2021 Billing Off Road Show in Northamptonshire
(Image: Charles Ward Photography)
Billing Off Road Show declined to comment.
ECHO readers rejected the decision and many agreed that they had suffered similar discrimination in the past for being from Merseyside.
Jayne Cavanagh said, “About 20 years ago I was in the Lakes for an interview, waiting at the train station to get home, and was stopped by plainclothes police.
“There had been a robbery nearby and people had reported that I had a Liverpool accent which made me feel so intimidated. I was … [a] young girl alone. ”
Ann Madden said: “I left Liverpool in 1986 but I still have the accent.
“Nowadays, more and more people have told me that they love the accent and the city.
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“When someone says I’ll take care of their car, etc., all I have to do is look bored and say ‘yes’.”
Dickie Bird said, “I live in the south now.
“They still think it’s funny to say, ‘Calm down,’ thinking you’re going to buckle their car wheels.
“Most of them are usually ignorant ********* who think I like them.”
Nicki Dee said, “I LOVE Scouse people. I’m only from South Cheshire – so 50 minutes away, but I found Scouse people to be the friendliest people ever!
“Go to London and people will ignore you …
“Go to Liverpool or meet a Scouser elsewhere and they will go out of their way to talk to you and they will talk to you like they have known you for years!
“Don’t even get me started with men with a Scouse accent, I love it!”
Many others commented the campsite’s refusal to let the family in as “discrimination”.
Theresa Duffield wrote: “Surely that is illegal? We have anti-discrimination laws against this kind of bias. “
Meanwhile, Zoe Elizabeth Edwards wrote: “Happened one night at the Sankeys in Manchester, a couple of Scouse boys in front of me, when the bouncer heard the accent, tonight he didn’t say boys and wouldn’t let them in, discrimination!”
And Caroline Baker wrote: “Liverpool is probably one of my favorite cities, the people are fabulous – salt of the earth, kind, crisp sense of humor – I can’t believe anyone would turn them away for being Scousers! I would definitely take that further if I was her. Disgusting.”
Mr Jordan, who was turned off the website with his son, said: “I had a call from a friend of mine who said they would not let Scousers on the website.
“I just thought they might have turned up with gangs of guys, but I figured I wouldn’t have any problems since I was with my family.
“When I got to the gate, I asked the guy where to check-in, showed him my ticket and he said, ‘No, we don’t let anyone in from Liverpool.’
“We were turned away just because we were Scousers.
“He recognized my voice, I didn’t have to be anyone else, so I didn’t try to change my accent.”
Peter said when he got to an alternative campsite in the area he was told that other people from Liverpool had experienced the same thing.
He added: “It was late when we arrived, we had been traveling all day and just wanted to sleep so we set off to find another campsite after declining.
Peter says he’s still waiting for a refund on the pitch.
He said, “The pitch cost me £ 70 and I was told by security to email it.
“I haven’t received any emails back about how I will be paid or refunded.
“They banned me from Instagram because I left a comment complaining about one of their pictures.”