Ben’s Latest Speech:

Speech to Progress - New Thinking For The Next Decade 2nd November 2009

When Labour we came into Government in 1997, what did we inherit in the cultural, artistic and sporting fields?

A demoralised landscape starved of resources.18 years of a Tory Government that had considered culture and sport as luxuries rather than central to our well being and pride as a nation. What the Conservatives called my department told us all we needed to know about how they viewed our cultural and creative sectors: The Department of National Heritage – the past, old buildings, monuments rather than the present let alone the future and the importance of having a much broader view of the creative sector if we are to fulfil our potential as a country. Read more of Ben’s Speech …

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