A major new poll has revealed that the public think Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Government are not doing enough to help musicians overcome post-Brexit barriers to touring abroad and need to do more.
UK Music commissioned the survey following a barrage of complaints from musicians and crew about the extra costs and red tape involved in touring and working across Europe since Britain left the EU at the end of January 2020.
A total of 58% of those quizzed agreed with the statement that “the Government should be doing more to ensure musicians can work abroad post-Brexit” – compared to only 7% who disagreed with the statement.
Of the representative sample of 2,080 people questioned on June 9-10 by pollsters Public First, 26% said they neither agree nor disagree the Government should be doing more to help musicians tour the EU, and 9% opted for “don’t know”.
Younger voters were the most keen to see more action from the Government, with 62% of 18-24 year olds agreeing the Government is not doing enough to help musicians touring the EU.
However the sentiment is shared by the majority of older voters too; 54% of over 65s said the Government should be doing more to ensure musicians can work abroad post-Brexit.
Agreement that the Government should be doing more to ensure musicians can work abroad after Brexit was displayed across all age groups, with 62% of 18-24 year olds and 54% of those over 65 years old agreeing.
Asked if the Government should be doing more to support the UK music industry, 56% agreed, against only 8% who disagreed.
Asked if the UK should be proud of its music industry and heritage, an overwhelming 83% agreed, against just 1% who disagreed.
The revelations will pile the pressure on Government ministers to step up efforts with EU nations to simplify the process and reduce the costs and red tape facing touring musicians.
The findings come as UK Music steps up the pressure on the Prime Minister and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden to reveal how talks with EU countries over removing restrictions are progressing.
In March, Boris Johnson pledged before the Liaison Committee of senior MPs that he was working “flat out” to address the issue and was having “plenty of conversations” with EU governments.
However, hundreds of thousands of people have backed petitions to highlight the huge challenges faced by musicians and crew trying to work in the EU post-Brexit.