WITH the principle that the Ilkley Literature Festival richly deserves and needs its funding, I agree with Mr Hopkins’ article on January 29.

The reasons given by Mr Hopkins for the lack of funding are, unfortunately, fallacious and consequently somewhat disturbing for us all.

Our democratically elected representative to Parliament informs us that he has written to the leader of Bradford Council criticising the council for the failure to provide festival funding. Paradoxically, that same body is subject to stringent cuts by the very government of which Mr Hopkins is a member. Should Mr Hopkins genuinely intend to support the Ilkley Literature Festival, our MP would have communicated with his colleague, Mr Sajid Javid, the Culture Secretary responsible for arts budgets. Only after successful application to Mr Javid will Mr Hopkins have properly fulfilled the role with which we have entrusted him.

Sadly, in his article Mr Hopkins makes no mention of the importance of central government in assisting funding. Mr Hopkins may possibly recall, where the rest of us have perhaps forgotten, because it simply has not happened, the prime minister’s commitment to a ‘Big Society’. Access to our culture, varied history and to free and frank discussion is, as the Ilkley Literature Festival demonstrates so aptly, for all and not merely for a south-eastern centric elite. Unsagaciously, given that he provides no evidence, Mr Hopkins alleges that, thanks to the poor of Bradford, the council ensures that the people of ‘affluent’ districts are, somehow, through deliberate conspiracy, being financially deprived of their due. In almost the same breath, he comments on the investment and ‘tourist spend’ in Ilkley. Mr Hopkins fails to ascertain rationally, on behalf of his constituents, precisely how this financial boon is likely to be disrespected by any local council, regardless of that council’s political affiliation.

It is a serious abrogation of moral and intellectual responsibility and nothing short of hypocrisy on Mr Hopkins’ part to play a blame game while his own political party are ultimately responsible for cuts to the budget of the wonderful Ilkley Literature Festival.

Rudely, Mr Hopkins labels our local authority a ‘gang’. In that overblown description it is Mr Hopkins’ own ‘gang’ mentality which is brought immediately to the fore. Should Mr Hopkins and the Culture Secretary attend the Ilkley Literature Festival, Mr Hopkins and his political masters may start to be able to comprehend the cohesive and uniquely embracing nature of the event. Perhaps then, the festival may be able to receive funding without being fettered by weasel words and lack of effective action by our MP.

Gina Wild

Alexandra Crescent, Ilkley