The SNP has demanded the UK government take responsibility for
abolishing EU touring visas – comparing them to “petulant weans”
during the Brexit negotiations.
has urged the UK government to take
accountability for their “abject failure” regarding touring
visas, and reverse its damaging decision.
SNP MPs and musical icons – including Elton John and Liam
Gallagher – have repeatedly called on the UK government to ensure
musicians and performers are on the list of workers permitted to
enter the EU without a visa to prevent sky-high costs for artists
and fans.
It was revealed that during Brexit negotiations, the EU offered
to include this in the deal but the Tory government rejected it
on the grounds that they would have to reciprocate.
Commenting, said:
“The UK Government walked away from talks on artists’ and
musicians’ visas which were vital. Artists and musicians needed a
deal. But instead, ministers acted like petulant weans when they
didn’t get their way. This was a politically motivated decision
driven by Brexit zealotry.
“Ending visa-free travel will destroy long-standing creative ties
that Scotland has cultivated with our European neighbours. It
will drive up costs for artists and musicians and will making
touring prohibitively expensive.
“UK ministers need to get back to the negotiating table as a
matter of urgency. The last thing our creative sector needs is
more barriers and higher costs.”
