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Call for end to Poet Laureate job Call for end to Poet Laureate job
(about 2 hours later)
Wendy Cope, a favourite to succeed Andrew Motion as Poet Laureate, has called for the post to be abolished.Wendy Cope, a favourite to succeed Andrew Motion as Poet Laureate, has called for the post to be abolished.
Writing in the Royal Society of Literature Review, she says the position has far too many expectations attached to it. Writing in the Royal Society of Literature Review, she said the position has far too many expectations attached to it.
She suggests that a good poet can write about public events without holding an official title. She suggested that a good poet can write about public events without holding an official title.
The government hopes to announce in March who will replace Andrew Motion, who is retiring after 10 years. The government hopes to announce in March who will replace Andrew Motion, who is stepping down after 10 years.
BBC arts correspondent Rebecca Jones said that Wendy Cope, with her wry wit and keen eye for the frustrations of everyday life, had become one of Britain's most widely-read poets. Cope, with her wry wit and keen eye for the frustrations of everyday life, is one of the UK's most widely-read poets.
Our correspondent said that while she would be a popular choice for Poet Laureate, she appears to have ruled herself out of the job. She said: "Although there is no requirement on the part of the Palace or Whitehall that the Laureate write anything at all, the press and the public expect it and the only way to get rid of that expectation is to abolish the post."
Writer's blockWriter's block
In the article, Cope says good poetry cannot be composed to order and criticises former poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman for writing what she calls an "embarrassingly bad poem" when Princess Anne got married. Cope added that good poetry cannot be composed to order and criticised former poet Laureate Sir John Betjeman for writing what she called an "embarrassingly bad poem" when Princess Anne got married.
Motion writes verse for significant Royal occasions She added: "I remember feeling sad and thinking, 'He shouldn't have to do this'. My opinion hasn't changed."
She says the best way for a poet to serve the arts is to remain free and just get on with writing whatever poems they like. Motion writes verse for significant Royal occasions Cope said the best way for a poet to serve the arts would be to remain free and write whatever poems they liked.
But she added that Motion had "worked hard and done a good job without making a fool of himself".
Last year, Motion said the job of writing verse for the Royal Family was "thankless" and gave him a case of writer's block.Last year, Motion said the job of writing verse for the Royal Family was "thankless" and gave him a case of writer's block.
His assignments included composing a poem to mark the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's diamond wedding anniversary and a modern verse for Prince William's 21st birthday.His assignments included composing a poem to mark the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's diamond wedding anniversary and a modern verse for Prince William's 21st birthday.
Motion initially said his appointment would give him a platform to promote poetry. Motion initially said his appointment would give him a platform to promote poetry, and he has gone on found the online Poetry Archive.
He succeeded the late Ted Hughes to the position, which was introduced in 1668. Previous appointees, which included Ben Jonson and William Wordsworth, stayed in the role until their death.He succeeded the late Ted Hughes to the position, which was introduced in 1668. Previous appointees, which included Ben Jonson and William Wordsworth, stayed in the role until their death.