Farewell then,
Chris
Another trauma with a quiet ending was the dastardly removal of
the highly successful Minister for Culture, Media, and Sport. Was
it that Smith too readily favoured art over sport, reversing the
interest of the majority of voters in this art-uncrazy nation? Or
that he was too fair and balanced in settling media interests on
a level playing field instead? Anyhow, he went, with dignity and
a major reputation impressively intact, to rumination on the back
benches. Tessa Jowell, his successor as Minister, seems hardly likely
to catch those mysterious votes, either. Smith took with him the
respect of museum directors, architects, theatre directors, the
film world, and above all the media world. Greg Dyke notably rooted
for him as he went. Smith could listen as well as legislate, was
bereft of any arrogance, and rated as his two major achievements
the freeing of Channel Four of its onerous 400 millions levy for
ITV, and the freeing of the public from museum charges. He presided
over culture, media and sport during a dramatic period of growth
in performance and attendance throughout the nation. Perhaps his
success was the cause of his downfall: he reversed the marginality
of the portfolio he inherited, turning it into a government winner.
The problem is that the credit is all his, and no one else’s.
A traumatic disappearance off field, and no equivalent replacement.
