News

The Treasury have once again overlooked the needs of the creative industries

24 September 2020

Bectu has responded to the Winter Economic Update by the Chancellor today.

Philippa Childs, Head of Bectu, said:

“Despite the damage suffered by the creative industries during the pandemic, it is clear that the Treasury have once again overlooked their needs.

“The Job Support Scheme may help some employers, but it will not help to save theatres that are still not able to open due to government restrictions and are already making thousands of workers redundant.

“And the army of freelancers and self-employed who make up the backbone of the UK creative industries face being excluded from support once again as the Chancellor continue to turn a deaf ear to their hardship.

“Without more support the UK creative sector will not get through the winter, we desperately need a targeted plan to save jobs and ensure that one of the most productive parts of our economy can survive the winter.”

Mike Clancy, Prospect General Secretary, said:

“The Chancellor promised creative thinking from the Treasury in advance of his statement, but it was not in evidence in this plan.

“The new Job Support Scheme is better than nothing, but it will do little for sectors that will still be effectively closed by government restrictions who will not be able to bring workers back for the minimum number of hours.

“And while millions of self-employed workers were desperate for more support from the Chancellor they have been overlooked and left out once again, with a bleak winter in prospect for thousands of families.

“The Chancellor must revisit this plan and find a way to target support at areas of the economy where there is really acute need – otherwise we risk doing permanent damage to the foundations of our economy.”