The head of the British Arts Council says politicians are out of step with how popular the arts have become. He “warned against excessive political interference in the arts and ‘the gradual amputation’ of the arm’s-length policy that protects artists from direct political tampering. Arguing that politicians are out of step with huge popular support for the arts in Britain, he said: ‘Since 2001 the percentage of adults who believe that arts and cultural projects should receive public funding has increased from an impressive 74% to an even more impressive 79%’.”