WHEN it comes to culture we are being let down, failed by the government — something made clear by the authors for each of their areas of expertise in the Communist Party’s recent Class and Culture pamphlet. The pamphlet has prompted some conversation in these pages — and I felt compelled to add my voice to that. Artists are soldiers of revolution, said Diego Rivera.

Make space for women! Growing up, I always associated the term spinster with negative connotations, sad and lonely. 

Recently I learned the etymology of the word. Historically it named a woman’s occupation as a spinner. To have an occupation as a woman in the past meant having means of one’s own — an income and freedom. To have time to create it is essential to have money and this is why young successful creatives are often from wealthy backgrounds. Watching television I sometimes wonder, did everyone on the screen come through spotlights at Oxford?