The sinister sound of democracy trickling away

Article Abstract:

The UK government has recently strongly opposed an amendment to the European Union's Television Without Frontiers directive which would have make it compulsory for 51% of all television broadcasting time in European Union countries to be given over to programmes made in Europe. The government felt that this regulation would have hampered the development of new broadcasters and restricted viewer choice. This seems very unfair to terrestrial broadcasters, which already greatly exceed the specified quota of European programming.

Laws, regulations and rules, Television broadcasting industry

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Politicians are the true philistines

Article Abstract:

Right-wing politicians tend to view the arts as a left-wing conspiracy of a perverted elite, while left-wing politicians have taken to being very critical of grants to the arts from public funds, seeing them as funding the pleasures of the wealthy few. Politicians from both sides are guilty of promoting a mistaken view of the rople of the arts in national and civic life. They have failed to recognise that high art and mass culture have become much more closely linked over recent years.

United Kingdom, Art and society

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Defectors have only a walk-on part

Article Abstract:

Political parties may be expected to warmly welcome politicians who defect from other parties, as this would provide them with valuable publicity. However, this is not the case in the UK, where defecting politicians tend to be regarded with suspicion by existing members of the party they join. Existing members feel that the new arrival may try to usurp their power, so they give the firm impression that there will be no immediate benefits to be gained from defecting.

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