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The Creative Industries Federation is calling for political parties to support a second referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, rather than crashing out without a deal.
After MPs rejected the government’s deal in a historic Commons defeat on Tuesday 15th January, the Federation has warned a no deal Brexit would have “catastrophic consequences for the sector” and added the threat of leaving the EU without an agreement has become a “distinct reality”.
Creative Industries Federation chief executive Alan Bishop said: “We have now reached an undeniable cliff edge, and it is imperative that our political parties do what is necessary to prevent the extreme damage that will be caused if we crash out of the EU.
“The creative industries are the fastest growing part of the UK’s economy. They contribute over £100bn in GVA and employ 1 in 11 people. The free movement of goods, services, capital and people have underpinned the sector’s success and our ability to attract talent, tour freely, and trade on our doorstep is vital to the ongoing success of the creative industries and to the UK as a whole. This is why 96% of our members intended to vote to remain ahead of the referendum, and why crashing out of the EU without a deal would have catastrophic consequences for the sector.
“Although further uncertainty will of course be challenging for the creative industries, this presents less of a threat to the country’s prosperity than leaving the EU without a deal. Not only are the creative industries vital to our economy, they also play a fundamental role in the life of every person living in the UK and are of irreplaceable importance to the way that the UK is viewed around the world.”
In the Creative Industries Federation’s Global Trade Report, 40% of the UK’s creative industries stressed that a ‘No-Deal’ scenario would harm their business’s ability to export, while 21% would, in the event of a ‘No-Deal, consider moving all or part of their businesses abroad.
Earlier today, Stephen Lotinga, c.e.o of the Publishers Association, told The Bookseller a consensus “urgently needs to be found” as he highlighted how the government’s deal did provide the book industry with “some assurances” as the Society of Authors warned “the clock is ticking and the Government urgently needs to come up with a Plan B.”