I love Bob Dylan. Apparently China doesn’t. I read this morning that his planned concert tour has been cancelled because the authorities refused to let him play in the major cities.

So – China having the Olympics didn’t work then!

I thought that was meant to be the new China putting its best foot forward and kicking its bad old human-rights record into the history books. Well – no surprise really. Google and now Bob have the truth at first hand.

At least China isn’t ageist! They still think Bob is a danger at 68 – and perhaps they are right. Music can be dangerous – thank goodness. It can call us together. It can inspire. It can symbolise the feelings of a generation. And I speak as someone who thrilled to the anti-war songs of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan – and the righteous days of the anti-Vietnam chords ‘One, two, three – what are we fighting for? Don’t ask me I don’t give a damn. Next stop Vietnam!’.

We need a new Bob Dylan really. There was no equivalent during the Iraq war to sing out the opposition – no rising up or dropping out of the younger generation. We did march against the war – all ages. I did go on the march – and my eldest daughter came with me – to show the Labour Government that we did not want to go to war on an illegal prospectus. Much notice they took of the wishes of the people!

Bob! Come here instead.