Outrage among musicians as government's rejection of EU offer of visa-free tours emerges

According to the report, an EU source said that, 'it is usually in our agreements with third countries, that [work] visas are not required for musicians. We tried to include it, but the UK said no.'

Meanwhile, the government has argued that it 'pushed for a more ambitious agreement which would have covered musicians and others, but our proposals were rejected by the EU'.

The revelation has prompted outrage in the industry. The ISM has called for an urgent statement in the House of Commons, calling the reports 'shocking', and resembling a 'serious breach of trust'.

Deborah Annetts, chief executive of the ISM, said: ‘The ISM and the rest of the music sector are appalled by shocking reports that the UK government rejected an offer from the EU to waive bureaucratic work permits for British touring musicians, in direct contrast to statements made by Ministers in Parliament last week.  

‘If these reports are true then we are looking at a serious breach of trust after the government provided multiple assurances throughout 2020 that they understood the importance of frictionless travel for UK musicians and would be negotiating an ambitious agreement to achieve this objective. 

‘We join the call with leading UK businesses that trade negotiations with Brussels should restart to address the serious regulatory challenges facing many industries, and a better deal for UK musicians should be included in those talks. We need complete transparency on what was discussed during the negotiations and an urgent statement in the House of Commons outlining what steps the government are taking to protect our world leading performing arts sector.'

Horace Trubridge, general secretary of the Musicians' Union, said: 'With the British music business having been devastated by Covid-19 and with no end in sight to the black hole of cancelled concerts, tours, festivals and regular gigs that is the very bedrock of our world-class industry, the news, if true, that our own elected representatives chose to turn down such an offer is nigh-on unbelievable.'