Granville Williams abhors the threats to institutions over research into slavery, while Christopher Gordon writes that Arts Council England has presided over a climate of fear
The mindset and language of Tory politicians discussing broadcasting and the arts is disturbing. Charlotte Higgins highlights the letter which the former culture secretary Oliver Dowden wrote to Arts Council England and other bodies about their approach to issues of contested heritage being “consistent with the government’s position” (An atmosphere of threat lingers over the arts – and it’s created by the government, 6 December).
Robert Jenrick, then communities secretary, said in January: “We won’t allow people to censor our past.” A month later Dowden said: “Purging uncomfortable elements of our past does nothing but damage our understanding of it.”