Humza Yousaf has refused to comment on the long-running investigation into SNP finances amid calls for police to provide an update on its progress.
27.02.2024 - 10:39 / deadline.com
“Urgent and joined up action” has been demanded from the UK government by broadcasting union Bectu, which has called for an industry-wide summit and criticized the culture secretary for saying the creative industries are “booming.”
Philippa Childs has written a letter to Lucy Frazer this morning saying the “current picture for the UK screen industries is deeply concerning.”
She called for the summit with haste, which she said should bring together “broadcasters, industry stakeholders and government to discuss the crisis and possible solutions.”
“The future of our much loved and globally revered film and TV industry, and one of the UK’s economic heavyweights, depends on urgent and joined up action,” said Childs. “The workforce, who underpin the sector’s success, must have a seat at the table.”
She was writing on behalf of the thousands of UK freelancers. A Bectu survey last week found that 68% of UK film and TV freelancers are not working, only a slight drop from the 73% from the previous survey, which came amidst the U.S. labor strikes. Of more concern, the number saying they want to leave the industry within five years rose to 37%.
“The pandemic exposed for the whole industry the vulnerability of the workforce when times become tough, and work dries up,” said Childs. “Far too many freelancers fell between the gaps of Covid-related government support schemes, and many workers tell us the current is even worse.”
Childs criticized Frazer for recent remarks about how the “creative industries are booming.”
“Whilst I appreciate that you were referencing 2022 figures, the harsh reality for tens of thousands of industry workers is far from the production boom of 2022,” she added.
The news comes after UK chancellor Jeremy
Humza Yousaf has refused to comment on the long-running investigation into SNP finances amid calls for police to provide an update on its progress.
Demi Sims has finally spilled the beans on what sparked the massive row that has caused a rift between her and her older sister, Chloe.The 27 year old and her sister Frankie, 28, have been at odds with their big sister Chloe, 42, who used to be on The Only Way Is Essex, for several months now. In fact, the disagreement has even affected their own Only Fans reality show, House of Sims.The siblings star in the show along with their brother Charlie, 31, and his girlfriend, Georgia Shults, 32. But a while ago, a huge rift drove a wedge between the two sisters.
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More than 42,200 people have signed an online petition calling for a ‘universal’ weekly State Pension payment of nearly £550 in order to match the current hourly rate of the National Living Wage. Petition creator Michael Thompson has also suggested making the State Pension available to everyone from the age of 60.
Rishi Sunak will head to Aberdeen today to rally Scottish Conservative members as his party continues to slide in the polls.
The White House is demanding that Fox News retract or revise its coverage of claims that Joe Biden was involved in a multi-million dollar bribery scheme after the key witness in the allegation was indicted for making it all up.
A new online petition is urging the UK Government to introduce a new social energy tariff for “disabled and financially vulnerable people who are rationing energy”. Petition creator Dan White argues that “an energy social tariff based on household income and household energy consumption could lift millions out of fuel poverty”.
UK Music, which is the collective voice of the UK music industry, has urged Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to cut VAT in the spring Budget to throw the sector a “vital lifeline” and save venues that are threatened by closure.Tom Kiehl, UK Music’s Interim Chief Executive, has asked Hunt to use his Budget next Wednesday (March 6) to lower the current 20 per cent VAT rate on tickets to 10 per cent as a “boost for consumers, music professionals and venues”.The request to slash VAT is among the recommendations that UK Music has made to the Government in its Budget submission, which outlines the support the sector needs to grow (read it in full here).Currently, music fans in the UK must pay 20 per cent VAT on their tickets – almost double the EU average (10.3 per cent) and around triple the rate in countries like Belgium (six per cent) and Germany (seven per cent). The 20 per cent rate is the third highest rate of cultural ticketing in Europe. Gig-goers pay more tax on UK tickets than anywhere else in Europe, except Denmark and Lithuania.The calls come amid growing concerns for the future of grassroots venues.
Drake has publicly called for Tory Lanez‘s freedom after he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting Megan Thee Stallion in both feet in 2020.Lanez was found guilty in December 2022 of three felonies related to the shooting and began serving his 10-year sentence the following August. However, it was reported that he may be able to have his sentence reduced to nine years due to time he had already spent in prison and under house arrest.Following his sentence, the artist shared a statement in which he claimed his innocence.
A former prison officer has said that 'Hannibal the Cannibal' should be taken out of solitary confinement.
Lily Gladstone made history on Saturday night, being named the winner in the outstanding performance by a female actor in a leading role category at Saturday’s SAG Awards in Los Angeles.
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