British Environment Secretary angers Morris dancers



Mr Paterson earlier this month said that he would apply a “Morris dancing filter” to ensure that European Union money would not be spent on inappropriate schemes under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy.

His comments have angered the Treacle Eater Clog troupe of Morris dancers who have now demanded an apology from the Cabinet Minister for making “derogatory” comments about their hobby.

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester Mr Paterson said: “What I also want to put in place is what I call a Morris dancing filter. There have been mistakes in the past and I want to make absolutely sure they are good schemes that deliver good worthwhile projects that are good for the economy and good for the environment.”

Julia Catovsky, secretary of the group of Morris dancers, based in Somerset, wrote: “Many of our members have been Morris dancers for 30-plus years and we are saddened that you have used the term ‘Morris Dancer filter’ in this derogatory manner to imply wasting funds on inappropriate rural projects.”

She added: “The 10,000-plus Morris dancers in this country of all ages and from a wide range of backgrounds, both rural and urban, receive no funding from either the UK government or the EU subsidy in pursuance of our minority sport.

Source

Mr Paterson does seem out of line.  If no public funds are spent on Morris Dancers in the first place, they can hardly be an example of wasteful government spending.