Lisa Nandy says Labour will harness the spirit of Tony Wilson to curb “cultural vandalism”
Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, took to the stage at Manchester‘s Beyond the Music conference to reflect on the Mancunian spirit, the growing issues in grassroots scenes and Labour’s plans to resolve them.
Nandy began her keynote at Beyond the Music on October 11th by reflecting on the legacy of Factory Records co-founder Tony Wilson, recalling how the Mancunian worked with her mother and sometimes even babysat her. “His spirit is the spirit of this incredibly city,” she enthused, before stating that she hopes to harness that spirit in order to “unlock the potential of our great British music industry.”
“While talent is everywhere, opportunity is not,” Nandy commented, suggesting that it’s more difficult to make it in music now than it was when she was growing up in the north west in the 1980s. “In the last decade,” Nandy continued, “culture and creativity has been erased from our classrooms and our communities.” She acknowledged that the number of children taking arts subjects at GCSE level has fallen by 47 per cent.
The Labour politician also discussed the difficulties facing working-class musicians. “Pop is getting posher,” Nandy acknowledged, “We are determined to reverse that trend by creating an ecosystem that can nurture talent from a quality music education to the grassroots venues.” She also shared her hopes to create a government that “walks alongside you to create an environment that opens up those opportunities.”
Furthermore, Nandy shared her concerns about the landscape for live venues, as well as the increasing use of artificial intelligence in music. She also addressed a question about ticketing, which has featured heavily in the news after the release of Oasis reunion tour tickets. Nandy shared that a consultation will be launched this autumn, led by herself Jonathan Reynolds, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
In a powerful statement towards the end of her question and answer session, Nandy shared, “I think the way in which arts, music, sport, drama, have been talked down, run down and removed from most children and young people in this country is an act of cultural vandalism and we are determined to set that right. I’m not going to be able to do that overnight, but we’re going to do it.”
Nandy’s latest comments come after she recently spoke about the importance of ensuring children have access to the arts, regardless of their background. Earlier this week, she presented artist Denzil Forrester with the Robson Orr TenTen Award at an event in Westminster, and told those in attendance, “That ability to live a richer, larger life belongs to every child in our country as part of their birth, and we are determined to ensure that that becomes a reality for them again.”
The MP for Wigan added: “And who knows? Maybe one of them then goes on to share their gifts with all of us and with the world as today’s winner has already done.”
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