Skip to main content
The Morning Star Shop
People power kills east London’s giant glowing bauble
IAN SINCLAIR tells the story of a small group of east London activists who took on and defeated a billion-dollar US corporation that wanted to build a giant sphere venue coated in gaudy LED lights
The US-based MSG group wanted to build one of their light-polluting sphere monstrosities, like the one shown here in Las Vegas, in the heart of east London [Harold Litwiler/ Creative Commons]

HERE is a good news story to inspire activists working for a better world in 2025.

Concluding last year, it is the story of a small group of campaigners defeating a multinational corporation that had the backing of the mayor of London and the British government.

The corporation in question is the US-based Madison Square Garden Entertainment Company (MSG), which announced in February 2018 that it wanted to build the MSG Sphere in Stratford, east London, on 4.7 acres of land they had purchased for a cool £72 million.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
The main entrance of The Guardian Newspaper office on York Way, north London
Features / 21 July 2025
21 July 2025

At the very moment Britain faces poverty, housing and climate crises requiring radical solutions, the liberal press promotes ideologically narrow books while marginalising authors who offer the most accurate understanding of change, writes IAN SINCLAIR

IS
Music / 14 July 2025
14 July 2025

New releases from Allo Darlin’, Loyle Carner and Mike Polizze

IS
Album reviews / 30 June 2025
30 June 2025

New releases from Toby Hay, Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Dobson & The Hanging Stars

ILLEGAL FROM THE START: British commandos in the south east region of Afghanistan, May 2002
Features / 20 June 2025
20 June 2025

As the cover-ups collapse, IAN SINCLAIR looks at the shocking testimony from British forces who would ‘go in and shoot everyone sleeping there’ during night raids — illegal, systematic murder spawned by an illegal invasion 
 

Similar stories
A general view overlooking the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Tennis / 21 July 2025
21 July 2025

Campaign group’s legal challenge against decision to approve proposals dismissed

Jeremy Corbyn (second left) and Zarah Sultana, MP for Coventry South (second right) on the picket line outside London Euston train station, August 18, 2022
Opinion / 7 July 2025
7 July 2025

The suspended Labour MP’s historic resignation to found a working-class party has lit up social media with excitement as thousands knock at the door wanting involvement in the desperately needed project, writes ANDREW BURGIN

Britain / 28 July 2024
28 July 2024