Starmer pledges to ‘back creatives to the hilt’

Labour has said it is intent on backing the UK's creative industries "to the hilt" if it comes to power.

The Stage reports that Labour leader Sir Kier Starmer spoke at a launch event for the Labour Creatives Network, which has been established to help develop the party's policy and manifesto for the next general election.

During the event, held last week, he stressed the importance of the sector to the economy.

In a message to the arts, Labour leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell said: "A Labour government is coming and we will back Britain’s creative industries to the hilt."

Addressing attendees, Starmer went on to say: "What you do is so important to the fairer, greener, more dynamic country I know we can become. 

"There isn’t really a debate about this – not a credible one. The reasons are perfectly clear – £178 billion worth of growth every year, £50 billion worth of exports, two million jobs, 750,000 businesses."

“Britain is a creative industries superpower around the world – other countries look at your strength with envy.”

The Labour Creatives Network aims to bring together artists who share Labour values. Attendees included actor Sir Patrick Stewart, TV producer and writer Steven Moffat, comedian Tracey Ullman, and chair of the Creative Industries Council Sir Peter Bazalgette.