The Bookseller - News - Philip Pullman quits as Society of Authors president in wake of Kate Clanchy criticism

Pullman, who will remain a member of the SoA council, went on: "The presidency is not an executive position. Matters of policy are decided by the members through the management committee and the society as a whole is administered by a chief executive. That state of affairs has worked well during most of my term as president, but recent events have made it apparent that when a difference of opinion arises there is no easy way to resolve it within the constitution or the established practices of the society.

"When it became clear that statements of mine were being regarded as if they represented the views of the society as a whole (although they did nothing of the sort, and weren't intended to) and that I was being pressed by people both in and out of the society to retract them and apologise, I realised that I would not be free to express my personal opinions as long as I remained president. That being the case, with great regret and after long consideration I chose to stand down."