After facing backlash from performers including Radiohead frontman Thom
Yorke, the British government pointed fingers at the European Union (EU) on
Monday for failure to reach agreement on visa-free travel for musicians post-Brexit,
AFP reported.
The Radiohead singer called Boris Johnson’s government ‘spineless.’
But a government spokesman on Monday insisted the European Union was culpable.
Britain had tried to secure visa-free travel for touring musicians as part of an ‘ambitious agreement on temporary movement of business travellers’, but Brussels rejected it, he added.
Tim Burgess, frontman with indie band The Charlatans, accused leaders of
“treating artists with… contempt”.
Horace Trubridge, general secretary of the Musicians’ Union (MU), said
Britain’s rejection of the EU’s offer was “nigh-on unbelievable”.
“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…, the news, if true…is nigh-on
unbelievable,” he added.
London dismissed EU’s counter-offer of a visa exemption for performers
visiting any of its 27 countries for less than 90 days, according to the
Independent newspaper, citing Brussels sources.
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Musicians including One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson and former Boyzone
member Ronan Keating have urged fans to sign an online petition in support of a
campaign calling for a ‘free cultural work permit.’
The petition has collected almost 250,000 signatures.
The visa would give free travel throughout the EU for music-touring
professionals, bands, musicians, artists, TV and sports celebrities.
Last week, organisers of British music festivals said the pandemic had
devastated the industry and warned events could disappear for good without more
government support.
Cabinet Office minister Nicholas True has said talks with Brussels over
visa-free travel for artists were “unlikely” to resume in the near
future.
