Dear John,

Time to face the music.

Government urged to pay performers for gigs missed due to their inadequate trade deal.

The government promised the music industry they would secure reciprocal visa-free touring with Europe in their trade deal. But cumbersome new rules mean musicians are having to turn down work “every day”.

That’s why Best for Britain is calling on the government to get back to the negotiating table, and deliver the comprehensive trade measures we were promised. Not just for musicians, but all trades which have been devastated by the thin Brexit deal.

Sign the open letter to Boris Johnson calling for an interdepartmental trade in services taskforce to sort out the gaps in UK-EU trade.

Boris Johnson claimed the government was working “flat out” to resolve this, and was having “plenty of conversations” with the EU. But no specifics were given. His empty promises are starting to sound like broken record.

The Musician’s Union said they had yet to see a single progress report from the government on any bilateral negotiations.

In a letter to the Culture Secretary, the Union called for a “transition touring fund”, which can help performers pay for costly visas and permits while talks are ongoing.

This joins Best for Britain’s letter to the Prime Minister, calling for wide-ranging task force improve professional mobility post-Brexit. Sign our open letter now.

British music should be at the forefront of global Britain. Our current trade deal is bad for ordinary musicians and its bad for our influence on the global stage.

The government are close the making a big concession on this. We can use the music industry as a stepping to levelling up trade in all sectors. Let’s push them to make a real difference.

Best wishes,

Cary Mitchell, 
Director of Operations, Best for Britain