No Great War celebration says Minister

BRITAIN’S First World War victory should not be celebrated with “dancing in the street”, the Conservative Minister in charge of marking the centenary has said.

By The Newsroom

Published 8th Feb 2014, 06:00 BST

The decorated tram which attracted recruits for The Leeds Pals in the First World War.

Helen Grant said although the war was an “absolute vital victory” for the nation there should be no “triumphant fanfares” throughout the next four years of commemorations.

This follows a row sparked by Education Secretary Michael Gove when he suggested popular shows like Blackadder were being used as a propaganda tool by “left-wing academics”.

Her comments come as the Yorkshire Post today launches its First World War centenary coverage, in association with the University of Leeds’ Legacies of War project, which will, over the coming months, tell the story of the war through the people who lived through it.

• Special section on the Great War centenary