To hell with woke publishers

The gatekeepers of the creative industry are riddled with a nasty strain of identity politics.

ASH Literary’s suggestion of an LGBTQ+ evacuee of colour is a perfect example of this syndrome.

It will provide juicy racism, a bit of Empire , a soupçon of provincial working-class ignorance tick, tick,tick.

And what does that leave you with in a book? Less a story, more like an index, and about as satisfying a read.

Gareth Roberts is a screenwriter and novelist best known for his work on Doctor Who.

He says the idea that we are incapable of understanding people who are different to us is obscene.

It is like Nick Griffin but with an MM LaFleur suit and a crisp little salad for lunch.