The Show Must Go On: British Industrial Strategy and the Creative Industries
| Published date | 01 June 2021 |
| Date | 01 June 2021 |
| Author | James Silverwood,Kiev Ariza |
| DOI | 10.1177/20419058211022939 |
36 POLITICAL INSIGHT • JUNE 2021
The Show Must Go
On: British Industrial
Strategy and the
Creative Industries
Film, music, and the arts are vital parts of Britain’s economy. These
creative industries, James Silverwood and Kiev Ariza argue, have
benefited from targeted industrial strategies that have often gone
unrecognised but will be ne eded more than ever post-Brexit.
In early January 2021, barely a week
after the end of the Brexit transition
period, it was reported that British
musicians, artists and other creatives
would not have visa-free travel within the
European Union. The response was rapid
and furious. The Incorporated Society
of Musicians organised an open letter.
Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher, shared a
stage with award-winning violinist Nicola
Benedetti and classical conductor Sir
Simon Rattle, all criticising Boris Johnson’s
government for ‘shamefully failing’ British
musicians. Elsewhere, Sir Elton John, a
fellow signatory of the open letter, exhorted
his fellow musicians, with the ferocity of
any stanza in Rocketman, to ‘go into battle’
on the issue. Not to be outdone, a letter
arranged by the trade union Equity, signed
by stars of stage and screen from Abiola
Ogunbiyi to Sir Ian McKellen to Shelia
Hancock, lambasted the Prime Minister.
The Johnson government’s response was
to blame the EU, whilst in the next breath,
© Guy Bell / Alamy Stock Photo
Political Insight June 2021 BU.indd 36Political Insight June 2021 BU.indd 36 12/05/2021 15:3412/05/2021 15:34
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