Since appointing former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson as its Chair on March 30th, UK Music has released a press statement defending its decision, while allaying claims that its new leader is receiving an excessively high salary.
According to a recent report by The Times, Mr. Watson, a former Shadow Culture Secretary, will receive a salary of £60,000 for 40 days’ work a year. Doubt has also been raised as to the breadth of Mr. Watson’s knowledge of the music industry.
But, striving to validate the fairness and diplomacy of their decision, UK Music announced: All UK Music’s member organisations were actively involved in the … recruitment process for the new Chair which culminated in the appointment of Tom Watson.
Mr. Watson’s reputation has been mired, however, by his record of backing disproved claims of paedophilia, resulting in the persecution of innocent public figures. It is for his exertion of political influence over police enquiries, stoking a witch hunt against politicians and senior military officials, that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has led the charge against Watson being denied a peerage.
Some have taken to Twitter to express their distaste with UK Music’s decision.
Harvey Proctor, who was falsely accused of raping and murdering children in a witch hunt led by Tom Watson, has joined a string of politicians, music executives and performers urging UK Music to sack the former deputy Labour leader as its new chairman.
https://t.co/ZsIxPz7CP5— Max Aitchison (@max_aitchison) April 26, 2020
Such connections do not put the former MP in good stead to be leading a major lobbying group such as UK Music. As to whether he is the right man for the job, Tom Watson is, by his own admission, principally a politician. According to his own website, tom-watson.com, he has served on the frontline of politics over four decades. He worked at the heart of 10 Downing Street as a Minister with Gordon Brown and served as a Defence Minister for Tony Blair.
It does make one wonder what on earth any of this has to do with the UK music industry. But, spoken as a true politician, Mr. Watson made his intentions clear in a statement announcing his new appointment: Our urgent task is to work with our colleagues and partners in Government to support the national effort to defeat coronavirus, whilst protecting the jewel in the crown of British culture – commercial music.
