UK Government Accused of Politicizing Cultural Appointments
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The British government has been interfering in cultural institutions by trying to influence appointments, such as directing the British Museum trustees to give Rishi Sunak a shortlist of director candidates.
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This breaks the important principle that cultural bodies like the BBC, museums, and Arts Council England should be independent of direct political control.
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Past Conservative governments also tried to influence appointments, but recent interference under Boris Johnson has been more blatant, with social media vetting of candidates.
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Government vetoed qualified candidates like Mary Beard as British Museum trustee due to her pro-Europe views, and a trustee resigned from the National Maritime Museum after another was rejected over social media activity.
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Labour aims to reassert integrity and independence of cultural institutions by stopping this politicization of appointments.