There was once a very silly government minister who floated the idea that Britain’s public libraries should be privatised. It was in the days of Margaret Thatcher when such talk was fashionable. Even so, the idea was quickly laughed out of court. The minister’s political career was over. Modern-minded Tories do things differently. They consult.… Continue reading Hands off our public libraries
Read moreAlthough I’m relatively new to the blogosphere, I have received an on-line ‘fisking’ a few times. You know what a fisk is, of course. The blogger takes an article or blog with which he disagrees and rebuts (he thinks/hopes) point by point, usually in a slightly irritating clever-dick way. Yesterday, within minutes of posting a… Continue reading Terry and Teddy Edward: the library debate continues
Read moreA glimpse into our political future. At a dinner held by the august book trade body, the Society of Bookmen, the shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey explained to senior publishers, booksellers and the odd author how a Conservative government would behave towards books and those earn their living from them. It was an interesting performance,… Continue reading Jokes, charm and woolliness: beware the Tory way
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