Festival of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2022 Debate

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Department: Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

Festival of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2022

Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Excerpts
Monday 18th March 2019

(5 years, 9 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Ashton of Hyde Portrait Lord Ashton of Hyde
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It is not a sporting festival. I completely agree with the noble Lord’s previous point about diversity. Arts Council England is paying particular attention to that. He will have seen that the annual report mentioned diversity in the arts and culture sector. Equality, Diversity and the Creative Case was published in February this year.

Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate Portrait Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate (Con)
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My Lords, why is the title of this proposed festival as it is? In 1951 we had a Festival of Britain. We are now talking about a festival of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Surely it would be more appropriate to have a festival of the United Kingdom.

Lord Ashton of Hyde Portrait Lord Ashton of Hyde
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I do not know why that title was selected but it seems to explain exactly what the festival is all about.