A Tory MP has attracted criticism after saying ballet and opera are at the “heart” of people’s culture in the south of England, but that people in the north prefer football.
Jake Berry, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen in Lancashire, made the comparison as he called on the government to protect local football clubs from the effects of Covid-19.
The former Northern Powerhouse minister compared Accrington Stanley to the Royal Ballet as he insisted action is required to protect clubs that are the “cornerstone” of communities.
Speaking in Westminster Hall, Liverpool-born Mr Berry said: “First of all is the hit that northern culture has taken from this Covid crisis.
"The former northern powerhouse minister compared Accrington Stanley to the Royal Ballet..."
— Richard Wheeler (@richard_kaputt) November 11, 2020
Sentences I never thought I'd write.
Jake Berry here on south v north, opera v football. pic.twitter.com/RRcQvPzkhm
“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.
Boris Johnson (right) walks with CEO of Transport for the North Barry White (left) and Jake Berry (centre) as he leaves the site of an under-construction tramline in Stretford, greater Manchester
PA“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.”
The comments sparked a furore on Twitter, with users pointing out that football clubs do exist in the south, while ballet theatres can be found in the north.
Others questioned whether the MP had ever seen Billy Elliot.
Movie idea: Billy Elliot remake where a young lad growing up in a southern family who have been ballet dancers for generations, decides he wants to move up north and play football, much to the horror of his father. https://t.co/wahLWM6JMb
— Christopher Probert (@tophe_probert) November 11, 2020
Journalist Hannah Al-Othman tweeted: “Of course, because there are famously no football clubs in London.
“But on a serious note, this lazy stereotyping of what "culture" means to the north is damaging, and northern MPs of all people should know better.”
Stephen Bush, political editor of the New Statesman, tweeted: “London: a city where gangsters quote Thatcher, amid arguments around which area has the best ballet companies. No wonder so many turn to gang crime: have you *seen* ticket prices at the Opera House?”
James Ball, global editor of the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, wrote: “Boring north/south stereotyping is turning into one of the worst grifts in British politics, and it’s all the worse for it being politicians representing the north pushing it.”
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.
Patrick Maguire, a reporter for the Times said: “It’s a badly made argument but not necessarily a bad one. The economic and community impact of losing a football club — as has happened and could well continue to happen — on eg Bury is going to be disproportionately big.”
Liberal Democrat former minister Lord McNally also called on the Government to consider a levy on television broadcast rights to get money to clubs in the lower leagues.
His comments came at question time in the Lords as peers raised concerns over the financial plight facing hard-pressed football clubs unable to admit paying fans into their stadia.
