The first encounter between Bob and Roberta Smith and his opponent Michael Gove on the hustings in the latter’s Surrey Heath constituency was a remarkably amicable affair—even though the artist is waging a campaign specifically against the former education secretary’s policies, which continue to be supported by the current government. Indeed, even after sitting through Bob and Rob’s rousing speech condemning the dismantling of the arts in our schools (which received copious applause from the good burghers of Camberley) Mr Gove was happy to be photographed with his opponent and a placard declaring: "All Schools Should Be Art Schools." He also promised to attend Bob and Rob’s current slogan-bedecked exhibition Why I am So Angry at Handel Street Projects in Islington—but only after the UK General Election. Who knows, perhaps the power of art will prevail on 7 May? (A full account of the Bob and Rob vs Gove campaign will be in the May issue of The Art Newspaper.)
