In November last year, a row kicked off when the government asked the philosopher Roger Scruton to chair the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, which will investigate the beauty of architecture in the UK. The 75-year-old philosopher was criticised by opposition MPs in the Commons for remarks he had made in the past about homosexuality, Islamophobia and alleged anti-Semitism.
Now, fresh scrutiny has been applied to the government’s decision once again, after Scruton gave an interview in the New Statesman in which he repeated some of his more controversial remarks. The government have since axed Scruton as an advisor.
However, many are still questioning why Scruton was appointed to the position in the first place, given that many of his views have long been public. Leading the charge against the government for the temerity to appoint Scruton is the editor of the Evening Standard, who readers may remember as being the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a previous life.
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