Imagine how many food banks that could have stuffed instead!
10 thoughts on “In 2005 Hugo Swire wanted the public to pay £7m for a stuffed shark”
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Imagine how many food banks that could have stuffed instead!
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East Devon Watch 
Apparently Swire, the former culture “expert” , is appearing IN PERSON!!! at the Telfer Centre , Exmouth Community College next Wednesday.
I wonder if he will be taking questions from the floor or whether his minders will want to avoid any embarrassing situations!
I might go along and see how things develop…..
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The doors are open at 6 and the meeting starts at 7..
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I should like to see that, what time would that be, maybe with luck it will be a farewell last appearance.
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He is also apparently presenting the prizes at this event. I wonder if he will still come to Exmouth if he loses his job. http://www.exmouthchamber.co.uk/the-exmouth-business-awards/
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Do they know he isn’t an MP!
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Surely this election shouldn’t be about side swipes and digging up articles about who said what 10 years ago, but about real concerns and issues. Otherwise rational people resort to tory tactics. We should address why:
* 27% of children in Britain go to school hungry without breakfast, with consequences such as not able to concentrate and being disruptive.
*There is considerable homelessness in the UK
*My children won’t be able to afford a house or even pay ‘market’ rents. (And social housing is a dream for many vulnerable people……. And £XXXmillion pounds in housing benefits are paid directly to landlords, including tory MP’s.)
* There is a minimum 18 week week wait to receive treatment for a diagnosed mental health issue. Whilst that person and their families world disintegrates
*The Independent Living Fund that partly supports disabled people in the workplace is being hacked apart, causing disabled people to lose jobs and independence.
*Older people who move to a care home pay over £1000 a week for care, often supported by low paid and untrained/supported workers whilst the owners and managers drive around in cars that cost 2 or 3 times the average income in the south west.
Damien Hirst has changed the face and perception of art all over the world, and that’s a great thing, culture has a value beyond £££’s and whether his ‘Physical Impossibility’ piece is worth £5million of public money is neither here or there, just a sensationalist headline
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In the context of what Hugo Swire said about food banks last week we feel it is appropriate to highlight his views on public spending.
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Fair comment. And we are all entitled to our opinion. But I feel the real concerns nationally, internationally and within our local community get downgraded by such sensationalist headlines.
Art, culture and creativity is too often used as a target of scorn particularly by the popularist press, the benefits for individuals, communities and economy largely ignored with the only value often highlighted is ‘how much did it sell for’. Which as I said is irrelevant to the majority.
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Leaving aside Hugo’s views on public spending, this is also indicative of his priorities and interests – expensive multi-£m art YES, foodbanks for people with £0 NO.
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On one page of today’s Financial Times “Spend It” magazine (page 32) people with Mr Swire’s income are recommended:
a small box in onyx and copper at £1,260
a crystal on a wood and iron stand at £4,695
a suede bag at £2,770
a Dior watch at £41,500
Not having just ONE of those things could feed a poor family for months or, in the case of the watch, years.
I have more than enough boxes, I don’t need a crystal on a stand, I have enough bags and two cheap watches both of which accurately tell the time. I probably have a twentieth or even much less of Mr Swire’s annual income and I contribute to food banks because I feel I am very blessed and I have compassion for those who have not been as lucky as I have been.
Surely, this is a mad world, my masters.
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