Speeches by Waugh.

“UK tours are often affected by what used to be European tours. Given the post-Brexit restrictions that many artists now face, how important is it for us to remove those barriers and get a deal allowing UK artists to tour in Europe?”

“For the artists, as well. There would not be a Beatles in Hamburg right now, would there, given current restrictions? How are the European restrictions affecting you?”

“From the layperson’s point of view, live experiences, live music, has never been more important to the audience, particularly post-pandemic when people were shut up in their homes and really valued the live experience, the interaction, and given that artists get peanuts from streaming, we assume that live concerts are …”

“For the artists, as well. There would not be a Beatles in Hamburg right now, would there, given current restrictions? How are the European restrictions affecting you?”

“It is clear that artists want to tour. What we are discussing here is whether they feel they can afford to tour. I would like to ask you, Joff, first, what is the current state of play for touring artists in the UK. What are the biggest challenges?”

“Marit, has that been your experience as well?”

“UK tours are often affected by what used to be European tours. Given the post-Brexit restrictions that many artists now face, how important is it for us to remove those barriers and get a deal allowing UK artists to tour in Europe?”

“It is clear that artists want to tour. What we are discussing here is whether they feel they can afford to tour. I would like to ask you, Joff, first, what is the current state of play for touring artists in the UK. What are the biggest challenges?”

“From the layperson’s point of view, live experiences, live music, has never been more important to the audience, particularly post-pandemic when people were shut up in their homes and really valued the live experience, the interaction, and given that artists get peanuts from streaming, we assume that live concerts are …”

“For the artists, as well. There would not be a Beatles in Hamburg right now, would there, given current restrictions? How are the European restrictions affecting you?”

“Marit, has that been your experience as well?”

“UK tours are often affected by what used to be European tours. Given the post-Brexit restrictions that many artists now face, how important is it for us to remove those barriers and get a deal allowing UK artists to tour in Europe?”

“8. What steps he is taking to help improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.”

“The UN’s Philippe Lazzarini is right, isn’t he, to say today that Israel is committing a “massive atrocity” by blocking aid to the children of Gaza? As well as the urgent need for aid, the Palestinian people need more trade with countries like the UK. Will the Minister explain how my constituents in Rochdale can buy mo…”

“Sure, but you have underlined that the legislation is doing that. Finally, people often ask, “What do we want? Which is more important, a competitive Premier League or a more fair pyramid?” Do you think that those two can go hand in hand, or is there a real, inherent contradiction between those two things?”

“Thank you. I think the clubs will have received the message loud and clear that you have set the clock ticking.”

“Do you think that it will be a key test of the success of the regulator as to whether or not there is a deal on those parachute payments in the next few years?”

“What is certainly central to your remit is obviously the financial resilience of English football; that is the whole purpose of this regulator. That is why, until recently, there has been cross-party support for this initiative, because everyone can see that football is not just about a sense of local pride; it is also…”

“Can I ask a little more about the disproportionate compliance burden on smaller clubs that you referred to? National League clubs are lucky if they have a handful of backroom staff who are not playing staff, and they will have to deal with the new regulator. Obviously they have concerns. Will the regulator do anything …”

“You have clearly done your homework, and you are a bit of a statto, like any football fan, but are you concerned that some of the additional costs from the levy will be passed on to fans by some clubs? That is a concern.”