Labour's Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire has outlined the party's plan on artificial intelligence (AI), the BBC, and freelancers. Debbonaire emphasized that Labour will prioritize arts and culture, making them central to their plan if they come into office. She stated that Labour will aim to strike trade deals with other countries to maintain and promote the UK's strong copyright regime in relation to AI. Debbonaire also expressed support for the BBC and highlighted the importance of public sector broadcasting. She emphasized Labour's commitment to a New Deal for Working People, which includes protections and rights for the freelance workforce in the film and TV industry. Debbonaire criticized the ruling Conservatives for their lack of support for talent in the creative industries and their involvement in culture wars. With the election expected later this year, Labour is currently ahead of the Conservatives in the polls.
In line with Labour's commitment to arts and culture, the music industry is calling on a Labour government to boost jobs and opportunity. Tom Kiehl, chief executive of UK Music, called on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to help reverse the decline in music teachers and bolster the sector. The industry has lost 1,000 music teachers since 2012, posing a risk to the talent pipeline. UK Music plans to work with the new government to recruit 6,500 new teachers and reverse the decline. The Association of Independent Music (AIM) also looks forward to working with newly elected MPs and the new cabinet to make the UK the best place to grow and scale a music business. Key measures include including music in creative tax reliefs, opening up small business opportunities in apprenticeships, and encouraging responsible development in AI. The goal is to support independent music businesses and creative professionals who are essential to the future of British music [bd6d53c5].
The U.K. government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is taking a potentially tougher approach to AI regulation compared to the previous Conservative-led administration. The Labour government plans to introduce binding regulation on the most powerful AI companies and models. They also aim to ban sexually explicit deepfakes and impose restrictions on developers of nudification tools. Labour intends to create a Regulatory Innovation Office to accelerate regulatory decisions and support the growth of the U.K. tech sector. The government will use AI to modernize public services and improve healthcare. They will also ensure that surveillance technologies are not introduced into the workplace without worker consultation. The U.K. can learn from the E.U.'s AI Act but aims to strike a middle ground between the U.S. and E.U. approaches to regulation. The government will need to balance the potential benefits of AI with public concerns, as a survey found that 45% of respondents believed AI taking people's jobs was a significant risk [f58e2a69].
Arts Council England Chair Nicholas Serota proposes a five-point plan for a 'cultural reboot to fix the arts', including the establishment of a national 'Arts Start' programme for preschool children. The programme would provide universal access to creative activities and be delivered through services such as GP surgeries, nurseries, and libraries. Serota suggests building on the learnings from the Sure Start programme and working with government to implement the plan. He also calls for an overhaul of specialist pathways for young performers and artists, cultural infrastructure in new housing developments, maintaining the country's standing as a cultural powerhouse, and an end to 'the culture wars'. The plan has received mixed reactions on social media. Some people welcome the ideas, while others criticize the Arts Council's previous actions and question Serota's understanding of grassroots culture [68cb52f7].