Margaret Hodge, Labour minister for culture and MP for Barking, says that the Proms aren't inclusive.
The audiences for some of many of our greatest cultural events - I'm thinking particularly of the Proms - is still a long way from demonstrating that people from different backgrounds feel at ease in being part of this...
I know this is not about making every audience completely representative, but if we claim great things for our sectors in terms of their power to bring people together, then we have a right to expect they will do that wherever they can...
Just as culture pushes the boundaries it can make some people proud to belong, it can make others feel isolated and deeply offended.
At least she isn't completely stupid, and at least claims to believe that every audience shouldn't be "completely representative" - whatever that means. But even suggesting that the Proms could make people "deeply offended" is sheer absurdity. How can anyone in Britain be offended by the British patriotism displayed at the Proms?I know this is not about making every audience completely representative, but if we claim great things for our sectors in terms of their power to bring people together, then we have a right to expect they will do that wherever they can...
Just as culture pushes the boundaries it can make some people proud to belong, it can make others feel isolated and deeply offended.
Of course, as usual, the government is already backtracking from Margaret Hodge's with Gordon Brown now praising the Proms, in marked contrast to what Hodge said. But no word from Hodge's boss, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, yet.
Isn't it remarkable how quickly these U-turns have come recently? At least under Tony Blair, he stood beside his minister when they said something stupid, rather than just saying "erm, well, what they really meant to say was..." in a blatant slap-down.
