L

Lord Berkeley of Knighton (CB)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 8 May 2025

Debate

EU-UK Summit: Visa Waiver Agreement

Contribution

Let us get back to the broader issues—and one of them is this. Culture, whether it be music, dance or drama, depends on the exchange of ideas. What we have at the moment is a profoundly philistine situation, and it is affecting individuals. I have heard from the leaders of opera houses and festivals in Europe that they are—let us put it this way—reluctant to engage British artists at the moment because of the costs. As the Minister mentioned, we have had recent exchanges on the Floor of the House about this problem, and I was very heartened to hear Brexiteers—people from the right, including the noble Lord, Lord Frost—say that this needs finessing. So please will the Government get on with this with more urgency than the previous Government did?

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