, Labour’s Shadow
Immigration Minister, commenting on the ISM report calling for an
overhaul of the visa system for musicians visiting the UK from
outside the EEA, said:
"This report highlights again how the Government has failed to
think through the detail on immigration.
"The UK music industry suffers when visiting international
performers struggle to secure the approval they need at short
notice.
"The Government must look to ensure that we are not turning
international talent away at our borders, given the invaluable
economic and cultural contributions performers make."
Ends
Notes to editors:
The Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) has today (Thursday
30 April 2020) released a report ‘How Open is the UK for the
Music Business?’, revealing the need for an urgent overhaul of
the current immigration system which regulates musicians from
countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) visiting the
UK to perform.
It demonstrates how an integral part of the UK’s immigration
system is ‘not fit for purpose’ and must be reformed before the
end of the Brexit transition period.
Highlights the significant threat facing the UK music industry
(worth £5.2 billion per annum) if the current system for non-EEA
nationals is applied to EU nationals, as outlined in the recent
Policy Statement from the Home Office (February 2020)
