Director of Campaign for the Arts Jack Gamble expressed concern the opinions expressed go against the arm’s length principle of ACE, which aims to protect arts funding from politicisation.

Gamble told Arts Professional: “Scrutinising public spending is part of an MP’s job, but we’re troubled to see a shadow minister targeting individual arts organisations and projects over political differences, however strongly felt. Politicians shouldn’t get to decide what art counts as ‘rubbish’ for the rest of us. If funding depends on pleasing them, artists end up censoring themselves and the public is denied different and challenging perspectives.

“That’s why governments of every party have upheld the arm’s length principle for over 80 years: ministers set the overall budget, while decisions on individual grants are made independently by bodies like ACE. That independence protects artistic freedom, which makes for better art, a more vibrant culture and a stronger democracy. We call on MPs in all parties to defend it.”