Music industry says government response to Brexit touring mess is “not good enough”

direct to your inboxManchester Airport bosses are urging the government to commit to restarting foreign holidays from May, as they call for more financial support for the struggling sector.Managing Director, Karen Smart, has joined bosses from five other Northern hubs in a bid to gain a package of financial help in the Spring budget next week.Airport leaders are calling for a realistic and cost-effective system that would enable foreign travel to restart in May.They have written to Boris Johnson

direct to your inboxDr Hilary Jones has issued a warning over festivals and other mass gatherings going ahead this summer.June 21 is now marked on many people's calenders after Boris Johnson unveiled his roadmap out of lockdown in England.This is because it is the earliest date all restrictions could be lifted - more than a year after the first lockdown was implemented.The Prime Minister said set out his four stage plan on Monday which will gradually see the lifting of restrictions and the

Lorraine, travel expert Simon Calder spoke to the presenter as Boris Johnson outlined England's plan yesterday.According to Simon, travel agents have reported a huge surge in bookings since the PM's announcement but what really are the chances of us stepping on a plane this summer?Simon said: "Bear in mind that these dates provided are provisional and depend on data."There is a bit of hope.

Boris Johnson announced his plan to lift coronavirus restrictions earlier today (February 22), setting out a four-step roadmap the country will need to go through to get “back to normal”.According to Johnson, the government will “aim to remove all legal limits on social contact” by June 21.

Boris Johnson’s “roadmap” out of lockdown.The Prime Minister announced his plan to lift coronavirus restrictions earlier today (February 22), setting out the various stages the country will go through to get “back to normal”.According to Johnson, the government will “aim to remove all legal limits on social contact” by June 21.

direct to your inboxGood Morning Britain’s Dr Hilary Jones has called for children to be tested for coronavirus before heading back to the classroom, as he voiced concerns over how the reopening of schools will affect infection rates.Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to tell MPs today that all pupils in all year groups can go back to the classroom from 8th March.Outdoor after-school sports and activities are also to be allowed to restart in two weeks’ time.But some, including teachers’ unions,

Boris Johnson’s forthcoming road map out of lockdown, which is set to be unveiled next week, should provide clear answers on when they will be able to operate once more.But even if they are provided with clearer answers, the beleaguered sector says that months of financial hardship means that they will need special consideration on March 3 in order to undertake the necessary steps for re-opening.Now, industry insiders have told NME that the next two weeks are “critical” in insuring the survival

direct to your inboxThe chief executives of leading airlines including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, Tui and Virgin Atlantic are calling on the Prime Minister to outline a recovery roadmap for the industry so they can plan for the summer.The chief executives of the airlines warned that without a clear indication of intent from the government that aviation will restart in the coming months, the UK faces a year of limited connectivity to the rest of the world, and the economic

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.

Boris Johnson‘s suggestion that rapid coronavirus testing could be the key to reopening music venues, and says the necessary plans are in place for it to be rolled out nationwide.Speaking at a Downing Street press conference on Monday (February 15), the Prime Minister said “rapid” lateral flow tests could be used by “those parts of the economy” that were unable to reopen their doors last year.The lateral flow tests can provide results within half an hour, which could potentially allow music fans

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

direct to your inboxCalls have been made to scrap part of the Brexit deal relating to Northern Ireland, as Boris Johnson warned Brussels he will act to prevent trade barriers being put up in the Irish Sea.Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster said the Northern Ireland Protocol risked the country’s “political and economic links” to the UK and called for it to be replaced amid growing tension among Unionists.The agreement on Northern Ireland was seen as a way of resolving the main

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), a row erupted over who was responsible.Now, ahead of the matter being debated in Parliament next week, many of the UK companies that help make touring possible look set to move to Europe in order to continue – taking a wealth