Forthright comments that made a splash
IN an age where all too often people complain that they don’t know what a politician really thinks, our local MP Jake Berry certainly made a splash with some forthright comments last week.
“This is an absolute disgrace. What these subsidy addicted artists need to realise is that it is the 18,000 BAE workers in the North who pay the taxes that support them.”
Not since he felt Michael Gove had stabbed his choice for Tory prime minister, Boris Johnson, in the back during the 2016 leadership race has Mr Berry been quite so outspoken on social media. (Gove’s decision to stand for Tory leader prompted Berry to Tweet: “There is a very deep pit reserved in Hell for such as he.”)
But what prompted his comments last week? It was the news that BAE Systems had withdrawn its sponsorship of an arts festival in the north east after some of the artists involved expressed concern at being associated with a company which manufactures weapons.
On one hand, I admire Mr Berry for speaking his mind so forcefully, and it’s a refreshing change for a minister to say something quite so colourful. But on the other hand, I’m sure some in the artistic community will take offence at being told they are ‘subsidy-addicted.’
Mr Berry went on to say in the media: “In the north of England after the last couple of weeks we are used to a bit of snow – we just don’t need any more snowflakes, thank you very much.”
Disagreements of opinion are one thing, but does it have to resort to personal insults against those you disagree with quite so quickly? I don’t think so.
Mr Berry’s view – that those who receive funding from the taxpayer need to think about where the money comes from before being critical – also feels a dangerous precedent. Does it mean doctors in the NHS can’t speak out against the dangers of smoking given tobacco is such a tax revenue generator for the country? Or that the views of car drivers about pot-holes are more important than cyclists because you don’t pay a tax to ride a bike, but you do to drive a car?
I hope not.