The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, presented her Spring Statement to Parliament today (26 March).
Commenting on the Spring Statement, Paul W Fleming, General Secretary of Equity said: “Across the UK, many Equity members will have voted for this government because of their manifesto promise of “Change”.
“Those members will be disappointed by the government’s continued commitment to austerity through the cuts to support for disabled people, the shrinking of the public sector, and previous narrowing of commitments for a just and green transition. Despite some welcome investment in social housing, this is not the change they were promised.
“The government has recognised the contribution that the arts and entertainment make to their growth plans through their industrial strategy. But this recognition must be backed up by increased public investment into the arts and entertainment across the UK, including in our much-loved continuing dramas such as River City, which is currently threatened with closure. We have not seen that today. As a result, investment in our economically vital sectors will continue to fall behind our European neighbours.”
