Alan Bennett's Newsnight defence of libraries sparks top trend on Twitter

Alan Bennett's view that the government's proposed library cuts are tantamount to child abuse, broadcast last night on Newsnight, sparked a flurry of support on Twitter

Yesterday Bennett attended a fundraiser in Kensal Green for Kensal Rise library, one of six in the London borough of Brent threatened with closure. Speaking to Newsnight, Bennett said that the lack of opportunity to read damages a child forever, and reiterated his previously-expressed opinion that closing libraries constitutes a form of child abuse. Bennett pointed out that not every child has books and computers at home.

He said: 'Libraries have to be local. They have to be handy. They shouldn't need an expedition. But that early period in a child's reading life is vital. Interfere with that, hinder a child's access to books in whatever form, and you damage that child, probably for life.'

His views were enthusiastically taken up on Twitter, making his name one of the most cited phrases in the UK following the broadcast.