it’s also true for “quality of life” spend on culture, arts etc. Soo much time wasted with reports claiming arts add a made up £ to the economy which are immediately debunked by HMT. Is life in a place better with a chance to enjoy culture? Is it also economic activity? If answer is yes just do it.

You’re right that he has been a woeful DG. But the real winner out of this mess is Robbie Gibb. He/his friends have bent BBC News out of shape and now he has 2 scalps to prove that he always gets his way. BBC Board inadequate to this moment and i’m not holding my breath for Lisa Nandy to be useful

Counterpoint: she was in charge of preparing Labour to govern and producing a programme for Government. And just… didn’t do it. Coming so unprepared has been without doubt one of their biggest mistakes. That’s on LOTO then PM but also v much on Sue.

Credulous piece of a “ take in BetFred copy” variety. Trebles all round for their PRs. Not sure Sunday Times should be so pleased with itself.

His first: A House for Mr Biswas. Poor orphan boy in Trinidad yearns for something better, not sure what. Fails, succeeds, fails better. Evocative, funny ( lots of grotesques) and such sadness.

Revel in Matthew’s blend of music, culture and social history on BBC Sounds while you can. Start with his recent int with Jesse Eisenberg about A Real Pain or a tour de force on Cabaret from a few years back. Reduced me to tears ( in a good way).

Last May when a BBC presenter offended Farage by referring to a speech as inflammatory it took them TWO HOURS to force a grovelling on air apology out of the presenter. With this, far worse, lie about Govt corruption the BBC left it to the indie to just shrug and blame a junior.

The graffiti on screen says "Bitch" as well as "tax evader" The script is not neutral nor critical. It directly legitimises the graffiti as a political commentary