Lib Dems Miss The Point
Yes folks, I am afraid my love bombing of the Lib Dems has come to a grinding halt, thanks to the lame comments from their arts spokesman on John Tusa’s brilliant report on the arts for the Conservative Party (which you can download HERE). The report is entirely independent, and was put together by 8 people who work in some for or another in the arts and have a passion for it. It is meant to provoke a thoughtful and interesting debate. Instead we got this:
Responding to the publication of the Conservatives’ report A New Landscape for the Arts, Liberal Democrat Arts and Culture Spokesperson, Dan Rogerson MP said: “These plans are unaccompanied by any suggestion of how they would be funded. How do the Tories plan to pay for a new Department, exponentially increased funding of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, further roll-out of Renaissance in the Regions and a raft of tax changes? People won’t easily forget that it was the Conservatives that recently questioned free admissions to museums and neglected the heritage sector while in government. While the report may contain some worthwhile proposals, no doubt the arts and heritage sector will remain suspicious it is more about gaining publicity than a genuine commitment to invest in the cultural life of Britain.”
This is wrong on every count. They’re not Tory proposals; we didn’t neglect heritage; and the report didn’t get any publicity!! Oh, how I long for the new politics, when a Lib Dem spokesman might have said “We welcome this independent report as a valuable contribution to the arts debate and will study it with care instead of firing off a knee-jerk, cliched press release”
canvas said on November 9th, 2007 at 11:05 am:
I really like recommendation 3.1
Too right!
Tizzy said on November 9th, 2007 at 2:36 pm:
That’s politics, Ed!
I do hope the Tories get their act together on this and put some solid weight behind all the Arts, new and old. When you win the Election I want to see joy return to the UK instead of the self-interested misery bestowed by this gvt.
And can you ensure that the blind and other disabled are better catered for in terms of sensual awareness, and access without destroying the facades with ugly disability ramps? Thanks.
Tizzy said on November 9th, 2007 at 3:13 pm:
I have a particular penchant for gardens and landscaping, especially sensitive renovations or new enterprises.
As home gardens are getting smaller or non-existent, and the likes of B&Q are providing the majority with pansies and petunias, do you have any thoughts on domestic gardedns, or parks etc?
Votedave said on November 9th, 2007 at 5:55 pm:
“The LibDems are not just empty. They are a void within a vacuum, surrounded by a vast inanition.”
by Boris Johnson
HeavyGod said on November 27th, 2007 at 9:24 am:
Really good and really interesting post. I expect (and other readers maybe
) new useful posts from you!
Good luck and successes in blogging!