Labour Luvvie Love-In: Something’s Afoot
A few weeks ago, Sir Nicholas Goodison gave evidence to the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee. Goodison was the author of an eponymous review into arts giving commissioned by the Treasury three years ago. He was asked what had happened since, and replied he hadn’t heard a dicky bird (I paraphrase). The next day he was called into the Treasury.
Today, Neil MacGregor, the head of the British Museum, went in to see Gordon Brown. Tomorrow, along with most of the arts establishment, he’s going in to see Tony Blair. Next week (March 6th) Blair is giving a major speech at the Tate on the public value of museums. In essence, Blair and Brown, even in the dying days are fighting a turf war, and the battlefield is the arts. Blair wants a legacy - Brown wants something sexy for his first hundred days. My prediction? Blair will say the funding for the arts is secure, or some kind of endownment/acquistion fund (because he thinks it will annoy Brown). Brown will announce a big tax break if he becomes PM.