I read all sides and keep my opinions to myself. Thank goodness too for Tom Shippey, a splendid fellow. I heartily encourage you to send it to the Times as a letter to the editor. Exposing this basest kind of artistic criticism for what it is would do all the Times' readers some good. Just like you, I found that article totally absurd.
Critics are at most, an annoyance.
So too with literature. I struggled to finish them while taking every spare moment to find out, for the first time, if Frodo ever completes his great task. If they cease to be a snob they cease to be popular with their snobby friends. The concept of pure evil, as opposed to simply a misunderstanding or lack of maternal attention in infancy, is anathema. In the Journalist's view Sauron probably just needs psychotropic medication and some counseling and all Middle-earth with be a garden again.