New UK Culture Secretary

April 22 2014

Image of New UK Culture Secretary

Picture: Telegraph

While I was away, Maria Miller was 'resigned', over an expense claim. I once wrote a book called 'Crap MPs', so I take a dim view of this sort of thing. But regular readers will already know that AHN disagreed with her approach to arts funding. So a new Culture Secretary brings new hope.

Step forward former Treasury minister Sajid Javid, above. There's been a hoo-ha on the left, which claims he isn't cultured enough because his Who's Who entry doesn't list 'opera'. This strikes me as both patronising and pompous, and I agree with the Grumpy Art Historian in his response to the likes of Michael Rosen.

Let's wait and see what Mr Javid has to say for himself - and I'd wager that as a successful businessman, and son of an immigrant bus driver, it'll be impressive. In any case, with only one year until the election, there isn't much time for him to do a great deal, and I suspect that loftier matters like regulation of the press will take up most of Javid's time. In the meantime, we have the continued good stewardship of Arts Minister Ed Vaizey. He has been in the job since 2010, and has therefore had time to effect meaningful change. 

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