I would like to know what is really behind the music provisions of the licensing act. I read the debates and the passion that Howells put into it - who was driving him? Why did he, with the aid of his flock of sheep, override such reasonable amendments as if the consequences of admitting they were wrong would have been rioting in the streets. I note Howells is the named minister who allowed sex offenders into schools. Did he have the same passion?   I read with incredulity his comments that the Irish fantasied about traditional music, and how he, Howells, hated folk music.

I sugeest all musicians challenge prosepctive councillors at the next local elections and any politicians they can get near to, as to why HM Government considered it necessary to "encourage" live music by requiring a licence under pain of heavy penalty for not having the same. I think most would be taken aback and would have no explanation but the Ministry of Fun seems competely impervious to these protests. The DCMS acts as if it were a creation of Soviet Russia.