On the 24th of March 2021, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was questioned by the Liaison Committee of MPs around the crisis of post-Brexit EU visas needed for touring musicians. Indeed, without government support nor some kind of agreement between the UK and the EU, touring might become extremely expensive and hard for musicians. Luckily, Johnson seems to have acknowledged the issue.
In fact, the prime minister has sworn to fix last December’s Brexit deal, which did not include visa-free travel for UK artists and their staff, along with more general Europe work permits. UK Music CEO Jamie Njoku-Goodwin bluntly asked Johnson why the creative sectors must go through the consequences of a no-deal Brexit, to which the PM replied: ‘I want to say how strongly I share the frustrations of the sector. This is a massively important part of the economy that contributes many of billions of pounds to the economy and jobs and to the general joy of the nation. It is hugely important and they are also a massive export industry. We must fix it.’
Hence, Johnson explained that meetings with UK’s European Union partners are being organised and that he was ‘passionate’ about restoring visa-free tours for performers. The Incorporated Society of Musicians’ Chief Executive Deborah Annetts stated: ‘The Prime Minister’s commitment to fixing the crisis for the creative industries is fantastic news for a sector facing a mountain of red tape and huge new costs to tour in Europe. It is extremely encouraging that the Prime Minister is working ‘flat out’ with individual EU member states to address issues with visas, work permits and moving goods.’
Musician Union General Secretary Horace Trubridge explained: ‘The MU is greatly encouraged by the PM’s response to questions from Julian Knight MP regarding the plight of musicians looking to tour in the EU post-Brexit. We are hoping that his words will enable Ministers to achieve a relaxation in the regulations that will enable frictionless touring for musicians sooner rather than later. After the misery of COVID which has brought about the cancellation of all live performance, musicians desperately need to feel that there is some light at the end of the tunnel and we welcome that the PM has signalled that a light might be shining from the EU side. Now that the PM has spoken, we will be looking to hold the Government to deliver on his promise.’
