King’s Speech

Baroness Keeley Excerpts

Tuesday 19th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Keeley (Lab)]

My Lords, in opening our debate on the gracious Speech, my noble friend Lady Anderson described our Government’s ambition as having one central mission: to build a more resilient country that spreads opportunity for all. The country in which we live is one in which talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. It is through our creative sector that we extend opportunity to those with talent, so I welcome two measures that will support that sector. The draft ticket tout ban Bill is a long-awaited measure. My friend Sharon Hodgson MP has campaigned since 2010 for government to act to stamp out ticket touting. I was proud to put forward this measure for the Labour manifesto of 2024 when I was the shadow Minister for Music, and it will be welcome to see it scrutinised as soon as possible, so that we can legislate to stamp out ticket touts for good. I know that music fans and others who buy tickets for live events will be delighted when that happens.

Secondly, I support the measure to grant new revenue-raising powers to local leaders in the overnight economy. When we travel to European cities, we often pay a city tax or tourism levy. Italy raises over €1 billion per year through city taxes. My noble friend Lady Hodge of Barking argued in her review that a modest tourism levy in England would ensure that visitors contribute fairly to the cultural assets they come here to enjoy. I agree with the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions that such funds must be fully ring-fenced and reinvested locally in culture, tourism infrastructure and heritage. I also totally support all that my noble friend Lord Smith said in his excellent contribution on keeping free entry to museums.

I welcome the Bill to strengthen ties with the European Union. Looking back to 2019, the EU was the largest live music market. Theatre is also part of our fast-growing creative industries. In fact, the UK’s performing arts sector supports some 244,000 jobs and generates £2.3 billion per year in gross value added. However, our exit from the EU has introduced significant barriers around visas, work permits and cabotage limits, and it has made tax arrangements more complex.

In a 2023 UK music survey, 82% of musicians surveyed said that their earnings had decreased because of Brexit, and 43% said it was no longer viable for them to tour to the EU. Our strengthening of ties with the EU must lead to solutions to these problems, which prevent UK artists touring and hamper growth in our performing arts sector.

Finally, I turn to two other measures announced in the King’s Speech: the competition reform Bill and the regulating for growth Bill. There are some key questions around these two Bills. The competition reform Bill seeks to streamline the work of the Competition and Markets Authority, but concerns have been raised, particularly by the News Media Association, about removing the role of the independent panel. I ask my noble friend the Minister: can the Government reaffirm their support for independent regulation by the CMA and say what safeguards are proposed to maintain expert decision-making that is independent of government?

Among measures in the regulating for growth Bill is one that will allow for the creation of AI sandboxes, allowing the testing and adoption of AI products. In the consultation on these AI sandboxes, or AI growth labs, the Government considered specific protections for IP and copyright law. Can my noble friend the Minister make a clear commitment that the UK’s gold-standard IP and copyright law will not be disapplied as part of AI sandboxes?

I end quickly by echoing the congratulations on the four excellent maiden speeches that we have heard today, from my noble friend Lord Hobby, the noble Lords, Lord Blackwater and Lord Dixon, and the noble Baroness, Lady Leaman. We look forward to their future contributions. It would be welcome to continue the debate on music education started by the noble Lord, Lord Blackwater.