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Duffy named as new Poet Laureate
Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy is the new Poet Laureate - the first woman and lesbian in the role
Ms Duffy succeeds Andrew Motion, who is retiring after ten years.
Duffy was reportedly considered for the position ten years ago, but was rejected by then Prime Minister Tony Blair who was worried how Middle England would react to a lesbian being appointed to the prestigious role.
Widely regarded as one of the country’s best-loved and most accessible poets, Ms Duffy has also written several plays and her work forms a core part of English Literature syllabuses.
The post of Poet Laureate is for ten years and carries with it an annual salary of £5750. Duffy says she will give the money away to the Poetry Society to fund a prize for new poets.
The Poet Laureate also traditionally receives a barrel of sherry, the equivalent of 700 bottles.
One of Carol Ann Duffy’s new tasks will be to provide poems to commemorate royal events, a task her predecessor had candidly described as “very difficult.”
The post of Poet Laureate is 341 years old. Previous holders of the title have included Geoffrey Chaucer, John Dryden, William Wordsworth and John Betjeman.
