I was more than a little perturbed by the ­interview with Yana Mintoff Bland (The Sunday Times, April 8). In particular I was shocked at her suggestion that state funding for ­political/historical films should be monitored by representatives of the two main political ­parties.

As one who has been fighting censorship in the arts for more years than I care to remember, this is alarming, to say the least. And I am calling for an official reaction and clarification from the Labour Party, which has proposed her as a candidate, as to its stand on the matter.

The concept smacks of nothing short of a Stalinist mentality. The artistic community should take note and make their voice heard. If such an idea was even remotely considered it would be a very serious blow against the creative process and democracy in general.

Do I have to remind Dr Mintoff Bland that the foundation of a Western liberal democracy is one based on a frank exchange of ideas and not on censorship?

Does one have to state the obvious and say that the very idea of state funding being withdrawn from a proposal because it does not align itself with the political ideas of a person or group is anti-democratic and goes directly against the concept of freedom of expression as declared in the European Convention on Human Rights?

Or should one conclude that, not to put too fine a point on it, the apple never falls far from the tree?