Luke Pollard, ​the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, ​is supporting the #WeMakeEvents movement in calling on the Government to reconsider their lack of support for the events industry after the Chancellor’s ‘Winter Economic Plan’ neglected to offer any help to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

#WeMakeEvents is an international movement to highlight that the live events sector urgently needs support from local governments to survive the Covid-19 crisis. Luke is backing their campaign for the government to make testing for COVID widespread and available at all events, as well as sector specific financial support, rather than the blanket approach which has been used up to now. This will allow employers to retain highly skilled people in preparation for a return to work, to support the freelance community, and to support all those excluded by the current government eligibility criteria.

Luke has written to the Secretary of State Department for Digital, Culture Media & Sport to ask him to ensure that these vital industries are not left behind.

Luke Pollard MP said:

“According to the Department’s own figures, the cultural sector’s value exceeds £100bn, and was the fastest growing sector in 2017.

 

The idea that these industries – and therefore these jobs – are unviable and therefore not worthy of Government support is insulting and wrong. Writing these businesses off will damage lives across the country and accelerate the jobs crisis.

 

These are more than just jobs – they are the very heart of our city, and the centre of our cultural offer in the city and we need to ensure they survive.

 

The events industry is so important, not just because it contributes billions of pounds each year to the UK economy, but because so many of our lives our enriched by the unforgettable memories made at these events. I think that’s worth saving. ”