Minister for Lego
Models are my therapy, admits Culture Secretary
HE is the minister responsible for promoting the arts, sport and media.
But Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright says his passion is not classical music or football – it’s building Lego models.
In a revealing interview, the 46- year- old Cabinet minister and QC admitted he found the plastic building blocks ‘therapeutic’ and uses them to unwind after a difficult day at work.
The married father-of-two, who has been Culture Secretary since July, also admitted his ‘very large’ Lego collection was so big he couldn’t put it all on display at home and had to keep it in boxes. His wife had even complained there was too much, he added.
In an interview with Talk Radio, Mr Wright said the ‘biggest and most impressive’ model he has built is a 4,500piece version of the Death Star from Star Wars.
Asked about his impressive Lego collection, Mr Wright said: ‘ It’s very large indeed, my wife would say far too large, but I find Lego therapeutic.
‘Everybody who does any difficult job needs a way to switch off. Mine is Lego. It’s a great way of putting your brain into neutral.’ He added: ‘Most of it is in boxes, I haven’t got the space to display it. Putting Lego together and pulling it apart again is a very therapeutic process.
‘The engineering capabilities of those who build and design Lego is quite amazing. People of all ages, even my age, have enjoyed it for many years and will enjoy it for many years to come.’
Asked by radio host Julia HartleyBrewer what the biggest model he had built was, he replied: ‘Biggest and most impressive? I’ve got a Lego Death star at home. How big is it? About four and a half thousand pieces I think.’
The current Death Star Lego set costs £409.99. The completed model measure 16in (41cm) by 16in.
Spending on toys by adults buying for themselves has increased by £ 30 million since 2016, with building sets the most popular items among older consumers.
Mr Wright, a former criminal lawyer, has been the MP for Kenilworth in Warwickshire since 2005. He previously served as justice minister and attorney general.
This week Mr Wright told an audience of newspaper editors he does not subscribe to any British newspapers or magazines – even though press is part of his brief.
But yesterday he said his comments were taken out of context and it was ‘complete nonsense’ to say he did not read newspapers.
‘My wife says I’ve got too much of it’