Thread: Boris Johnson has just awarded his friend David Ross, the Carphone Warehouse owner worth £700 million, £85k for a private opera company in his house from the funds designated for struggling arts venues/orgs. Meanwhile many that serve our communities got nothing. Nada. 1/4

When I say David Ross was Boris Johnson's friend, I mean he has given him free luxury stays worth £15k on the private island of Mustique in the Caribbean. You know ... the one Johnson was on in February when he should have been preparing for Coronavirus. 2/4

Ross is also a major Tory donor. In the final few weeks of the last election, he donated £250k to the Johnson campaign.

So is the £85k from the arts rescue package for this private opera company in merit? I doubt it! 3/4

Take @towerseyfesti, a wonderful folk festival of more than 50 years standing which serves the community, helps preserve traditions and employs hundreds of artists, suppliers and technical freelancers every year ... they applied ... and they got nothing.

This govt stinks! 4/4

5/4! Many thanks to Private Eye for publishing the article.

6/4 Well since you're here ... I do have a SoundCloud ... but given the circumstances, I'd appreciate it more if you would consider giving whatever you can to the Towersey Folk Festival crowdfunder to help them survive this injustice. Thanks. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/towersey-festival