Labour dominates the list of those who agree that the arts are crucial to jobs and growth.
Peter Pearson via Creative Commons (CC bysa. 2.0)
An Early Day Motion noting the importance of the arts and creative industries to the UK has been signed by 59 MPs, making it the seventh most backed Early Day Motion of this parliamentary session. The motion notes that the UK is internationally renowned for art and culture and mentions the importance of funding in the regions. It also highlights the economic impact of cultural activity, saying the arts “are crucial to jobs and growth now and in the future”. Early Day Motions allow individual MPs to highlight a certain issue and gain backing from fellow MPs, but are very rarely discussed in Parliament. The motion in question was originally sponsored by Dame Joan Ruddock and is supported mainly by Labour politicians, with only five MPs from other parties signing so far. The only Conservative to have signed is Zac Goldsmith. Early Day Motions which have so far gathered more signatures from MPs include one backing fair deals for local pub owners and one criticising the Government’s plan for legal aid reform. All issues will be able to gather signatures of support for the duration of the 2013/14 parliamentary session. Meanwhile, an Opposition Day debate on the Economic and Social Importance of Regional Arts and the Creative Industries will take place in Parliament tomorrow. According to Wikipedia these debates “are most often used to bring up issues that the government would rather ignore.”