Some Folk artists were allegedly sponsored by the Communist Party to promote communist ideals.

I'd like to see any evidence for that. The Communist didn't have that much money to go flashing it about. In 1956 there were rarely that many professional singers and the CP had just lost thousands of members.

Anyway there must be some of those so sponsored still alive. Maybe they could tell us.

And many of the singers from that time would have difficulty toeing the party line.

And someone pushing communist propaganda via folk clubs would not have lasted long I am sure!!

And it could be argued that since the Arts Council gave no money to folk music - why not?