Time for Labour to Get Up off Its Arts Policy Labour's Cultural Stance Is Nothing to Bragg about, Says Arts Editor Te Rry Grimley

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Mr Tony Blair had his cage rattled this week by Sir Simon and some other representatives of the cultural great and good, but it was all done in a most civilised way.

A meeting at No 10, which we were apparently not supposed to know about, was called by Mr Blair on Monday in an attempt to bridge the yawning credibility gap which has opened up between the Government and Britain's arts world.

This gap is based on a now widespread feeling that an arts policy which consists of inviting Noel Gallagher for canapes at Downing Street might be a touch lightweight at a time when the Arts Council's budget has been slashed by tens of millions of pounds , orchestras like the …