Shouldn’t You Be Boasting About How You’ll Ensure They Can Read, Write And Add Up, Harriet?

The number of primary school pupils taking part in extra-curricular music, drama and dance activities has slumped under the coalition, Harriet Harman, the shadow culture secretary, has said.

There’s been a recession on. Is that supposed to have had zero effect on extracurricular activities, Harriet?

Lord knows, you blame everything else on this…

A Labour analysis of official figures also identified a widening gap between the participation of white children and those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds in after-school arts classes.

Oh noes! Where will our future rap stars and graffiti artists come from?

"We are seeing a serious fall in the amount of art and culture that children are able to take part in," Harman said. "The blame for this lies fairly and squarely at the door of this government. They don't understand the importance of the arts and their role to extend opportunities to every child.

"Michael Gove devalued creativity in schools and many local arts organisations who would provide out-of-school activity for young people have lost support because of the government cuts to local councils. And more than a third of local authorities have reported a drop in after-school clubs since the elections."

Are the arts suddenly that important, then, Harriet? Have we forgotten ‘education, education, education’..?

She said Labour was committed to giving every child the opportunity to experience and participate in the arts, and would get Ofsted to check that every school was providing arts and cultural opportunities.

And…if children still refuse to participate? What then, forced art appreciation?