The music and entertainment world has been reacting to Nadine Dorries becoming the UK’s new culture secretary.
- READ MORE: “It’s going to be devastating” – here’s how Brexit will screw over British touring artists
As part of Boris Johnson’s significant cabinet reshuffle yesterday (September 15), Dorries has taken on the job as head of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), replacing Oliver Dowden.
Following Dorries’ appointment, many across the music and culture industry have been sharing previous opinions and comments from the new chief, including when she claimed that comedy was being killed by “left-wing snowflakes” and that the BBC was “a biased left-wing organisation which is seriously failing in its political representation, from the top down”.
One tweet, from 2017, has been widely shared since yesterday’s appointment. In it, Dorries wrote: “Left-wing snowflakes are killing comedy, tearing down historic statues, removing books from universities, dumbing down panto, removing Christ from Christmas and suppressing free speech. Sadly, it must be true, history does repeat itself. It will be music next.”
Left wing snowflakes are killing comedy, tearing down historic statues, removing books from universities, dumbing down panto, removing Christ from Christmas and suppressing free speech. Sadly, it must be true, history does repeat itself. It will be music next.
— Nadine Dorries MP (@NadineDorries) December 27, 2017
“Our new culture secretary…” The Charlatans‘ frontman Tim Burgess wrote when sharing the tweet, while David Baddiel referenced Dorries’ historical stance on gay marriage.
“Not sure this view is going to recommend Nadine Dorries to many people who work in the creative arts,” he tweeted.
Our new culture secretary… pic.twitter.com/4Wuk5GFxYr
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) September 15, 2021
Not sure this view is going to recommend Nadine Dorries to many people who work in the creative arts. pic.twitter.com/c8pvRWeuZR
— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) September 15, 2021
Meanwhile, former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas wrote: “Nadine Dorries as culture secretary? Satire is dead.”
See a range of reactions to the controversial appointment below.
Nadine Dorries as culture secretary? Satire is dead#Reshuffle
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) September 15, 2021
Culture Secretary. https://t.co/N6OPbxUp87
— ed simons (@eddychemical) September 15, 2021
The Arts are, at their core, about empathy.
Nadine Dorries is now Culture Secretary.— Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) September 15, 2021
Nadine. Dorries.
— Stephen Mangan (@StephenMangan) September 15, 2021
Anyway congratulations to Penny Mordaunt – I mean, Nadine Dorries – to her promotion to Culture Minister. pic.twitter.com/xJdlshgLnl
— Ash Sarkar (@AyoCaesar) September 15, 2021
Among the challenges that Nadine Dorries will face are establishing what is to be done after the recent streaming enquiry called for a “complete reset” into business models from the likes of Spotify, and the ongoing row surrounding the lack of provisions for artists and crew wishing to tour Europe post-Brexit.
Figures from the music industry hit back at the government’s recent claims of victory in securing visa-free touring for UK artists in 19 EU member states – accusing them of “spin” and “meaningless posturing”.
“Let’s make this ultra clear: the UK government have not created any positive change by ‘engaging’ with individual EU states,” said Ian Smith from ukeartswork and the #CarryOnTouring campaign. “They have merely been told the truth of what it means to be a third country non-visa national. Regardless of who said what way back during the negotiations, we need action now and continued action at that!”
This month also saw an open letter to the government as a “rebuttal” of their visa claims widely shared across the internet.
Elsewhere at Downing Street, Boris Johnson this week laid out his winter COVID plan – including a potential ‘plan B’ for vaccine passports at large events.
The Prime Minister revealed the plans in a press conference held at Downing Street on Tuesday (September 14). In the speech, he said that while the government and its scientific advisers are “confident in the vaccines that have made such a difference to our lives,” they did not rule out new measures coming into place in the event of “unsustainable pressure” being put on the NHS.
These potential measures include mask wearing becoming mandatory once again, staff being asked to work from home and vaccine passport certificates being required for events with over 500 people in attendance.