Tom Paine Festival Talk - Lord Kenneth Baker of Dorking

Lord Kenneth Baker of Dorking was a controversial member of the Thatcher government: as Secretary of State for Education he introduced the national curriculum, grant-maintained schools, and student loans. He is also a collector of political cartoons from 1780 to 1820, and the author of three books looking at the caricaturing of British politicians and monarchs, including his most recent effort ‘George IV, A Life in Caricature.’ Today he will be giving a speech as part of the Tom Paine Festival, George IV – Cad or Catalyst? As part of the talk he will be showing cartoons from his collection.

“George IV was the most caricatured of our kings,’ he tells Viva Lewes. “After him, in the Victorian age, cartoons were cleaned up, but at the end of the 18th century anything went. The caricaturists were the paparazzi of their day, and for many people this was the only way to see the important figures of their day. George was seen as being the Prince of Pleasure, and much vilified, but I make the case in my book that he was the greatest connoisseur ever to be on the throne. He was an architect of genius and a tasteful art collector and sponsor responsible for the best part of the Royal Collection.” As a cabinet minister Lord Baker came under the scrutiny of contemporary caricaturists himself. “I’ve been a Cheshire cat, a lion, an eagle and a snail. But it didn’t matter to me. A lot of MP’s are never caricatured. When you are, you know you have made it.” AG