Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden criticises the EU again, calling touring barriers “absurd”

EXCLUSIVE: British trade union Bectu is sitting down with Channel 4 this week to discuss complaints from freelancers about the working culture on Studio Lambert’s hit TV show Gogglebox.

direct to your inboxPiers Morgan and Matt Hancock clashed again on Good Morning Britain as the health secretary refuses to apologise for acting unlawfully.Mr Hancock said he "won't apologise" after a high court ruling found him guilty of unlawful conduct by failing to publish Covid-19 contracts within the legal time frame.Piers was quick to ask him why he wouldn't issue an apology to which Mr Hancock said: "I won’t apologise, to apologise would imply I’d do something differently."Given the

The Telegraph, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden is looking at plans for a “UK creative industries export office” to help support international touring plans as the Brexit touring row continues.The body would closely resemble similar agencies in Australia and Canada, which provide advice on export logistics and strategy to artists, as well as helping them to expand into new markets and increase their exposure.The proposed UK agency would also help artists with visa arrangements, such as those now

Brexit touring row, and what it could mean for their chances of booking emerging UK bands.In failing to negotiate visa-free travel and Europe-wide work permits for musicians and crew, the current problems that surround post-Brexit touring stand to be far-reaching.

direct to your inboxThe Greater Manchester Pension Fund has been criticised for its ‘woeful’ response to calls to divest from fossil fuel firms and align itself with local climate change policies.GMPF, the largest local government pension scheme in the UK, invests more than £1bn in oil and gas stocks each year, a strategy which has proven controversial amongst environmental campaigners.However the fund says it is also the largest investor in renewable energy and energy efficiency with £500m tied

reeling in anger at Culture Minister Caroline Dinenage’s response to a debate in Parliament last week where she again rejected the idea of a visa-free “musicians passport” for artists and crew and repeated claims that the EU was at fault, today saw the Minister quizzed by MPs on the government’s handling of the situation and potential routes towards a solution.Before Dinenage faced questioning, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee heard the testimony of voices from across the worlds

Brexit negotiations which failed to achieve visa-free touring for UK artists and crew.Many within the UK music industry were left reeling in anger at Dinenage’s response to a debate in Parliament this week where she again rejected the idea of a visa-free “musicians passport” for artists and crew, and repeated claims that the EU was at fault despite calling for an end to “the blame game”.After over 280,000 people signed a petition calling for the government to establish visa-free touring for

280,000 people signed a petition calling for the government to establish visa-free touring for artists and crew through EU member states after Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal failed to do so, the campaign was debated by MPs in Parliament yesterday (February 8).Cross-party MPs repeated fears that the new added huge costs to future live music tours of the continent would prevent rising and developing artists from being able to afford it, as well as claims from European promoters that they’re likely to

Brexit ended in the government essentially ignoring the idea and doubling down on the EU being at fault.Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal failed to secure visa-free travel for UK artists and their crew wishing to tour Europe (adding huge costs to future live music tours of the continent and preventing rising and developing artists from being able to afford it), prompting a row to erupt over who was responsible.After over 280,000 people signed a petition calling for visa-free

NME about their doubts of being able to tour Europe again thanks to the ongoing Brexit visa fiasco and its impact on musicians.Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal failed to secure visa-free travel for UK artists and their crew wishing to tour Europe (adding huge costs to future live music tours of the continent and preventing rising and developing artists from being able to afford it), prompting a row to erupt over who was responsible.After over 280,000 people signed a petition

Radiohead‘s Colin Greenwood has become the latest high-profile name to speak out as the post-Brexit touring debacle continues.Musicians were left out of the Brexit trade deal that came into force on January 1, 2021, which means artists may have to acquire visas for each country they wish to perform in while touring Europe.Critics of the deal have since pointed out that not allowing musicians into the EU with a visa-free work permit could result in a huge rise in costs that could ultimately make

Elton John has called for a “short-term fix” to be implemented as the post-Brexit touring debacle continues.Musicians were left out of the Brexit trade deal that came into action on January 1, 2021, meaning artists may have to acquire visas for each country they wish to perform in in Europe.As critics of the deal have pointed out, musicians not being allowed into the EU with a visa-free work permit – as workers in some other industries have been granted – means big rises in costs that could bar

Elton John has met with Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden over the ongoing visa-free travel row in Europe.The singer said he had “very positive” talks with Mr Dowden about EU travel for UK musicians, but said visa-free touring is not currently “on the cards”.“It’s much more difficult for young artists to get this together because of all the red tape,” John told BBC arts editor Will Gompertz.

coronavirus travel red list, the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced in a series of tweets this afternoon. It means that travellers from the United Arab Emirates will be denied entry apart from British, Irish and third country nationals with residence rights who must self-isolate for 10 days at home.Once the new regime comes in, they will have to pay to stay locked in a hotel for 10 days.

© @Copyright HELLO! Hello! Magazine Jools Oliver has confirmed her latest collaboration - and it's with British high street brand NEXT! The wife of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is taking her children's clothing brand Little Bird to the popular retailer later this year. The vibrant clothing collection for newborns and children up to 6 years, designed and created exclusively with NEXT, will launch on 22 March and will be sold via NEXT's website, both in the UK and internationally.

FKA twigs has returned with a new song called "Don't Judge Me." The song features drill rapper Headie One and English producer Fred Again. The song was announced yesterday on Instagram, and comes with a music video co-directed by Emmanuel Adjei and twigs.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal failed to secure visa-free travel for UK artists wishing to tour Europe (adding huge costs to future live music tours of the continent will be incurred and preventing rising and developing artists from being able to afford it), a row erupted over who was responsible.Earlier this month, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden put the blame for this at the foot of the EU following reports that a “standard” proposal that would exempt performers from needing

Nothing but love! Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin have set the standard for friendly celebrity exes — and the actress certainly doesn’t mind sharing her affection for her ex-husband.

Marillion’s Fish has laid into the government regarding the ongoing touring fiasco for UK artists in the EU after Brexit.The government has come in for heavy criticism since the UK officially left the EU earlier this month over the Brexit deal’s lack of support for touring musicians, specifically in terms of the failure to implement visa-free travel in Europe for British musicians and their crew.While Dowden previously told NME that the EU was to blame for not permitting visa-free travel for

lockdown rules to attend house parties.The fine will be handed to individuals attending illegal gatherings of more than 15 people in private homes, with each additional offence doubling to a maximum level of £6,400.Patel announced the move during tonight’s Downing Street press conference (January 21), which she led alongside the chair of the National Police Chiefs Council Martin Hewitt.While household mixing is banned in the UK, the Home Secretary said that “there is still a small minority who