Minister criticises 'snowflake' artists who opposed arms firm sponsorship

The government minister responsible for the “northern powerhouse” has described campaigners who forced the arms firm BAE Systems to withdraw as a sponsor of a flagship arts festival in north-east England as “subsidy-addicted artists” and “snowflakes”.

The Great Exhibition of the North, which will run from 22 June to 9 September in Gateshead and Newcastle, is being funded by £5m from the government’s northern powerhouse fund, with a further £7.5m to be found from other sources, including sponsorship.

BAE Systems, which employs 18,000 people in the north of England, was lined up for an estimated £500,000 sponsorship deal, but decided to pull out after an online petition calling for the event to sever ties with the arms manufacturer garnered more than 2,000 signatures.


Source: theguardian