Heather Small of M People performs in London. Getty Images
Heather Small of M People performs in London. Getty Images
Heather Small of M People performs in London. Getty Images
Heather Small of M People performs in London. Getty Images

M People furious after 1993 hit song 'Moving on Up' used for Liz Truss's entrance


Neil Murphy
  • English
  • Arabic

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss has been criticised by a founding member of the band M People after their song was used during a speech at the Conservative Party conference.

Ms Truss walked on to the stage to the 1993 hit Moving On Up before she delivered her keynote speech to party members in Birmingham, England.

Mike Pickering, who wrote the song, said on Twitter that the band was livid over the selection and claimed he had not given permission for its use.

"Hopefully most people will know that they have pirated it off us," he said. "She won’t be around to use it again for very long, I would imagine.”

Pickering said the band had contacted their lawyers but had been advised there was little that could be done.

He also mentioned that the band's lead vocalist, Heather Small, had a son who was active in the Labour Party.

The dance anthem, which was released by the Manchester band, peaked at number two on the UK singles chart.

Ms Truss is understood to have personally selected the song for her walk-on music.

  • British Prime Minister Liz Truss speaks at the ruling Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham. Reuters
    British Prime Minister Liz Truss speaks at the ruling Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham. Reuters
  • Attendees take their seats before the keynote speech by Ms Truss. Bloomberg
    Attendees take their seats before the keynote speech by Ms Truss. Bloomberg
  • Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi speaks. PA
    Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi speaks. PA
  • Prime Minister Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary arrive for day four of the Conservative Party conference. Getty Images
    Prime Minister Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary arrive for day four of the Conservative Party conference. Getty Images
  • A delegate wears a red 'Make Britain Great Again' cap. Getty Images
    A delegate wears a red 'Make Britain Great Again' cap. Getty Images
  • A member of the audience wears socks with Union Jack colours. Reuters
    A member of the audience wears socks with Union Jack colours. Reuters
  • Liz Truss and Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng visit the construction site of a medical innovation campus during day three of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. Getty Images
    Liz Truss and Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng visit the construction site of a medical innovation campus during day three of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. Getty Images
  • Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrives at the conference. Reuters
    Foreign Secretary James Cleverly arrives at the conference. Reuters
  • Former home secretary Priti Patel speaks in Birmingham. Getty Images
    Former home secretary Priti Patel speaks in Birmingham. Getty Images
  • A delegate is pictured with a bag displaying pictures of former Conservative prime ministers Benjamin Disraeli, Winston Churchill, Boris Johnson and Margaret Thatcher. AFP
    A delegate is pictured with a bag displaying pictures of former Conservative prime ministers Benjamin Disraeli, Winston Churchill, Boris Johnson and Margaret Thatcher. AFP
  • Mr Kwarteng delivers a speech on day two of the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. Getty Images
    Mr Kwarteng delivers a speech on day two of the annual Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. Getty Images
  • Liz Truss, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Therese Coffey listen to Mr Kwarteng speak. Reuters
    Liz Truss, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Therese Coffey listen to Mr Kwarteng speak. Reuters
  • Ms Truss arrives for the Conservative Party Conference. EPA
    Ms Truss arrives for the Conservative Party Conference. EPA
  • Leaflets with Ms Truss on the cover are seen on the second day of the conference. Getty Images
    Leaflets with Ms Truss on the cover are seen on the second day of the conference. Getty Images
  • A person attending the conference carries a bag from the Taxpayers' Alliance. EPA
    A person attending the conference carries a bag from the Taxpayers' Alliance. EPA
  • Refugees present Tory delegates with 'one-way tickets' to Rwanda during a protest outside the Conservative Party annual conference. PA
    Refugees present Tory delegates with 'one-way tickets' to Rwanda during a protest outside the Conservative Party annual conference. PA
  • Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg laughs as he arrives. EPA
    Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg laughs as he arrives. EPA
  • Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng chat at the opening session of Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. EPA
    Ms Truss and Mr Kwarteng chat at the opening session of Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. EPA
  • A protester demonstrates outside the annual autumn conference. Bloomberg
    A protester demonstrates outside the annual autumn conference. Bloomberg
  • Mr Kwarteng gives a TV interview. Reuters
    Mr Kwarteng gives a TV interview. Reuters
  • Protesters march with placards at a demonstration in Birmingham against the Conservative government as the party's conference started in the city. Bloomberg
    Protesters march with placards at a demonstration in Birmingham against the Conservative government as the party's conference started in the city. Bloomberg
  • The prime minister and members of her Cabinet sing the national anthem at the opening session. EPA
    The prime minister and members of her Cabinet sing the national anthem at the opening session. EPA
  • Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons, pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. PA
    Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons, pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. PA
  • Protesters and police clash in Birmingham city centre. Getty Images
    Protesters and police clash in Birmingham city centre. Getty Images
  • Former British prime minister Boris Johnson is reflected in Mr Kwarteng's glasses. Reuters
    Former British prime minister Boris Johnson is reflected in Mr Kwarteng's glasses. Reuters
  • A protester holds a placard condemning the chancellor. Bloomberg
    A protester holds a placard condemning the chancellor. Bloomberg
  • Ms Truss arrives at the conference. Bloomberg
    Ms Truss arrives at the conference. Bloomberg
  • Delegates take a break outside the venue on the opening day. AFP
    Delegates take a break outside the venue on the opening day. AFP

“There was a range of options and she chose that one,” her press secretary said, but could not say whether the party had asked the band for permission.

“I don’t have detailed knowledge of how the licensing of this stuff works,” he told PA.

When asked about Pickering’s criticism, the press secretary said: “I don’t know who he is.”

Pickering said that he was "gutted" and that the Tory Party were "killing the live touring of bands and artists" following Brexit.

Pickering also suggested that the track was an unusual selection and that the Tory party had not taken proper notice of the lyrics.

He told PA: “I was just looking at the lyrics. It’s amazing. I hope she takes note. It’s about, ‘Go and pack your bags and get out’."

Ms Truss entered to the track’s famous chorus “Movin’ on up, nothin’ can stop me. Movin’ on up, you’re movin’ on out. Time to break free, nothing can stop me.”

The opening lyrics of the song read: “You’ve done me wrong, your time is up”, with the last line of the first verse saying: “Move right out of here, baby, go on pack your bags”.

James Small-Edwards, the son of the group’s lead singer, Heather Small, was elected as a Labour councillor for Bayswater, west London, in May.

After Ms Truss’s entrance, he tweeted: “An apt choice! This tired and out of touch Tory government is indeed moving on out.”

Mr Small has also previously shown his support for refugee charity Care 4 Calais’s #StopRwanda campaign.

Boris Johnson used Friendly Fires’ track Blue Cassette as he walked out for the party conference last year.

The indie band later hit out at the prime minister, saying their “permission was not sought” to use the song and that they had asked their management to ensure it was not to be used again by the party.

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