Minister for Culture

Monday.

I see that in the UK they have a minister for culture - Ms Tessa Jowell. Seems like a great idea.

Then I discover that her department is responsible for the UK Government's proposed new Gambling Bill that will open the way for regional "super-casinos" built by US corporations. Great news for US corporations!

There's opposition to the plan but the Minister for Culture accuses her opponents of snobbery. Well that's always been part of Brit culture hasn't it? They're well known for it and for football hooliganism and binge drinking.

"There's a whiff of snobbery in some of the opposition to new casinos," Ms Jowell said. "People who think they should remain the preserve of the rich; others that find them gaudy and in poor taste; others that don't want the big investment that will come from the US. They are entitled to those views, but they are not entitled to force them on others."

Nice to know that a minister for culture wants "super-casinos" to be there for the poor, not just the rich and thinks that "super-casinos" are neither "gaudy" nor "in poor taste".

If that's her idea of good taste - God help the future of Culture and the Arts in the UK!

She gives her proudest achievement in parliament since 1997 as: "Delivering Surestart, the early-nurture programme for disadvantaged mums and their babies, because equality is a birthright."

If she gets her way these same disadvantaged mums will be able to pop down the local "super-casino".

Equality is after all a birthright.