Dowden defends war on woke, insults DCMS boss

Recently departed Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says he is not "standing in the way of change" by threatening to strip funding from organisations deemed "too woke".

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Dowden said organisations "have to demonstrate why they justify the funding" by rejecting aggressive campaigning on issues like decolonising museums.

"When I make interventions in this area, I genuinely ask myself… am I just standing in the way of change in a reactionary way?

"I genuinely do not believe that is the case."

Dowden also appeared to take a shot at DCMS Permanent Secretary Sarah Healey, saying public servants working from home needed to "get off their Pelotons and back to their desks".

Healey was recently quoted as saying she preferred working from home because she could spend more time on her exercise bike.