Thread by @lewis_goodall

Now the UK may itself be unattractive for visiting musicians and for touring.

In this regard, music may be a microcosm for other parts of the economy. That the cost/time to do business in Britain vs other EU states slowly more uncompetitive vs other European economies.

Interesting first example I've heard of a Conservative minister using Labour's backing of the deal against them when scrutinising Brexit. Dineage says: "Labour voted for this deal in the knowledge of what it involved, including the end of free movement."

Dineage comes back to priority being Freedom of Movement: "Their proposals would have enshrined permanent visa free short stays for EU citizens in the agreement. That's simply not compatible with our manifesto to take back control of our borders."

.@Alison_McGovern asks Caroline Dineage to publish the correspondence between the EU and UK to ascertain exactly what the proposals were between the two sides. Dineage gives a chronology of what happened but makes no such commitment.

Discontent on the Tory benches too. @DamianGreen: "The intl success of UK musicians has for decades been of huge benefit...it seems extraordinary that any British govt would turn down a deal...if that deal were practical." Asks the minister to assure him that didn't happen.

Point is this is potentially disastrous for the British music industry and the arts more widely, a huge UK success story. Consider how many musicians are part of an orchestra. How many instruments they have. How many places they visit in a tour. How much paperwork there will be.

I made a report about the potential for enormous disruption to the UK arts industry on touring, the paperwork required, the carnets and so on back in 2017. These issues have been well known for a long time yet her were are. news.sky.com/story/why-musi…

Music and the arts are already have a shocking year, many individuals/ organisations are on the edge. Bookings for orchestras and so on are made years in advance. The last thing they need is something which will make them much less competitive/attractive vs European comptetion.

But that's where we are.

As I say, danger is this is salutary for other industries. Frankly, Britain's products and British talent becomes too much hassle vs competitors in the European marketplace.

If you're in Rome, why employ a British orchestra/singer with all the hassle when you can get a Dane or a German as easy as an Italian?

Music also a good example of how benefits of seamless access to the EU aren't going to be compensated for by benefits of trade deals elsewhere. Why? Because Europe is closer and Europe has perhaps densest collection of venues in the world. You can't find that anywhere else.

Dineage also says that the EU is losing out by not having access to UK musicians/venues

But again, this is a microcosm of the wider problem. They can't get British musicians or sell to UK venues. But they can look across the rest of Europe. We can't. It's all about relative size

Dineage confirms that orchestras/musical organisations in Northern Ireland will not require carnets or music instrument certificates when touring in the EU.

When asked does not confirm whether or not GB orchestras travelling to NI will require carnets...

Again, music a microcosm for what "taking back control" means and where control now is. It's been removed from individual musicians and businesses (no longer free to operate across EU) and been returned to the UK nation state/EU which now control who comes, does what and when.

Again Dineage (the Conservative minister) tries to deflect criticism from Labour by citing their support for the Brexit deal: "The Labour Party voted for this deal in the full knowledge of what it involved including the end to freedom of movement."

In short, arts an embodiment of potential Brexit problems

-European wide industry, v developed links, basically one labour market
-A market which is dense and local and can’t be replicated elsewhere
-being removed from it and associated bureaucracy risks making UK uncompetitive

minister repeatedly cited that end to freedom of movement/sovereignty meant in the absence of bespoke arrangements, this was unavoidable.

But that’s the political choice which has been made. Less freedom for individuals/companies to do biz in Europe, more control for the state.

That parallel- the state's power being inflated vs less freedom of action for individuals/businesses is being/is gong to be replicated across many industries as the new post-Brexit economic order is established.

In sum, British orchestras/performers are to be faced with mountains of paperwork should they wish to tour across Europe. That's if it remains economical for them to do so/European venues think it's worth the hassle to book British. Saving us from red tape this will not be.

Boris Johnson asked by @BenPBradshaw to account for his statements that post Brexit fishermen wouldn’t be impeded by form filling/export barriers and artists/musicians would be free to work and tour unimpeded.

PM gives lengthy answer about fish. Doesn’t address the arts at all.