Andy Burnham’s poetry background highlighted at Tony Harrison memorial
9 reported
According to a single-source report from The Guardian, Andy Burnham spoke at a memorial for poet Tony Harrison at Salts Mill in Shipley, where he discussed how literature can change lives. The event was a small gathering with actors, directors, writers, and family members. Burnham was introduced to Harrison's poem "V" as a sixth-former by an English teacher, and the poem's existence proved to him that a working-class background need not be a disadvantage. Burnham quoted an epigraph from Arthur Scargill to his father, who was skeptical about his son studying English at university, and the quote convinced his father. Burnham went on to study at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. The article notes that politicians with English literature degrees are rare, comprising only 4% of those who won seats in the 2019 election. Burnham has said a knowledge of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Orwell, and Harrison has helped him on doorsteps, and in 2015 he wondered whether he might write poems himself after politics.
What’s reported
Andy Burnham spoke at a memorial for poet Tony Harrison at Salts Mill in Shipley.
The event was a small gathering with actors, directors, writers, and family members.
Burnham was introduced to Harrison's poem "V" as a sixth-former by an English teacher.
The poem's epigraph from Arthur Scargill reads: "My father still reads the dictionary every day. He says your life depends on your power to master words."
Burnham quoted this epigraph to his father, who was skeptical about his son studying English at university.
Burnham studied at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
Politicians with English literature degrees made up only 4% of those who won seats in the 2019 election.
Burnham has said a knowledge of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Orwell, and Harrison has helped him on doorsteps.
In 2015, Burnham wondered whether he might write poems himself after politics.
Key figures
Andy Burnham: spoke at the memorial, former Makerfield MP (according to the article, though it notes Josh Simons stood down as Makerfield MP two weeks before)
Tony Harrison: poet being memorialized
Richard Burgon: MP for Leeds East, also spoke at the event
Blake Morrison: author of the article, emeritus professor at Goldsmiths, University of London
Josh Simons: stood down as Makerfield MP two weeks before the event
Arthur Scargill: quoted in the poem's epigraph
Gerald Howarth: Conservative MP who attempted to ban the broadcast of "V"
Steve Witherden: Labour MP in Wales who studied English at Lampeter
Sources: The Guardian
