A Tory MP has been accused of peddling “bizarre caricatures” after he said southerners like ballet while northerners like football.
Jake Berry said opera and ballet was “at the heart of their culture for people living in southern England,” but in the north “it is our local football club”.
The Rossendale and Darwen MP even suggested Accrington Stanley was the northern equivalent of the Royal Opera House.
The former Northern Powerhouse minister made the point in a Commons debate demanding action to protect football clubs.
But his comments led to a furious backlash from the Northern Ballet, which tweeted: “We are disappointed that an MP and former government minister continues to perpetuate tropes that culture in the north is of less value than that in London.
“In the same way that sporting clubs are of great importance to many people throughout the country, including in the south, culture is equally important to a huge percentage of people in the north.
“Our home city of Leeds is the only city outside of London to have its own resident ballet, opera and theatre companies.
“Culture being produced in the north is of world-class quality, vibrant and innovative, and contributes greatly to both society and the economy. We hope that one day this will be recognised by all.”
Labour MP for Denton and Reddish Andrew Gwynne said: “These bizarre caricatures ignore the cultural centres of the north and the sporting successes of the south.
“It shouldn’t need explaining that many northerners love the Halle Orchestra and many southerners love football.
“Instead of trying to divide people with stereotypes, the government should do the right thing and support culture and sport through these difficult times.”
Mr Berry, who leads a group of Tory MPs urging Boris Johnson to give the north more support, made the comments in a debate in Westminster Hall.
He said: "First of all is the hit that northern culture has taken from this Covid crisis.
"For many people who live in London and the south of England, things like the opera house and ballet will be at the heart of their culture.
"But for many of us in the north it is our local football club - our Glyndebourne or Royal Ballet or Royal Opera House or Royal Shakespeare Company will be Blackburn Rovers, Accrington Stanley, Barrow, Carlisle or Sunderland.
"I'd just say to the minister I think there is a time now where if you look at the argument going on between the EFL and the Premier League, the time has come where the Government must seek to intervene to unblock this to save local football clubs across the north of England - many of which are the cornerstone of our communities and at the heart of our culture.
"I hope that the minister will reflect on that during the debate."
Treasury minister Kemi Badenoch did not address Mr Berry's football plea in her reply to the debate, acknowledging the north of England has been a "hotbed" of energy, ideas and creativity for centuries.
