The reclusive Kate Bush has issued a rare statement – denying that she's a supporter of the Conservative Party in her native UK.
The singer-songwriter's rebuke follows an interview published in 2016 by Canadian magazine Maclean’s, in which she is quoted as praising current UK Prime Minister Theresa May.
"We have a female prime minister here in the UK," she said. "I actually really like her and think she’s wonderful.
"I think it’s the best thing that’s happened to us in a long time. She’s a very intelligent woman but I don’t see much to fear. I will say it is great to have a woman in charge of the country.
"She’s very sensible and I think that’s a good thing at this point in time."
But in a statement published on the Kate Bush website, and entitled 'Clarification', the 60-year-old wrote.
"I read some articles that included a number of inaccuracies and usually I don’t respond. However I do feel I need to address one story which came from a phone interview I did two years ago.
"I was very disappointed that the use of a quote out of context was timed with the release of the live album and it seemed as if the focus went onto the quote rather than the work. It was deeply frustrating."
Bush has never spoken at about her political affiliations and, at the time the interview was published, she decided to "let it go" but she feels the time is right put the record straight.
"Over the years, I have avoided making political comments in interviews. My response to the interviewer was not meant to be political but rather was in the defence of women in power.
"I felt he was putting a really negative slant on powerful women, referring to a witch hunt involving Hillary Clinton.
"In response I said that we had a woman in charge of our country, and that I felt it was a good thing to have women in power.
"I should have been clearer when I then said it was the best thing that had happened to us for a long time - because I greatly disliked the behaviour of the previous PM, who at that point I felt had abandoned us and everybody felt angry and let down.
"Again with no response from me to the latest resurfacing of this article, it could make it seem like I am a Tory supporter which I want to make clear I am not.
"I won’t be commenting further on this, but feel it’s become so pervasive that I felt I needed to clarify this matter once and for all."
