UK and EU Trade: Arts and Creative Industries

Lord Wallace of Saltaire Excerpts

Thursday 11th September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

Our priority remains keeping arrangements as straightforward and supportive as possible for musicians and the creative industries. I recognise how important musical instrument certificates are for touring musicians in the wider creative sector. There are no plans, however, to make St Pancras International a CITES-designated port.

[Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD)]

My Lords, would it not be slightly easier if the Government’s approach to the reset with the EU was a little less timid? We could then begin to tackle some of the unnecessary bureaucracy and delays. There is a customs union that we could be renegotiating, and we could move further on that. We want a little more courage from the Government in standing up to the right-wing press and to the legacy of the Conservatives and now Reform.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I do not recognise the timidity that the noble Lord suggests that this Government are approaching this with. This Government have been extremely clear on what our priorities are for the EU reset. That includes not going in aggressively but working constructively with our EU neighbours to ensure that we get the right outcome to deal with the huge range of issues that have been highlighted by this important Question this morning.