King’s Speech

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Excerpts

Tuesday 19th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (LD)]

My Lords, I welcome culture being part of today’s debate and the acknowledgment by the noble Lord, Lord Whitehead, of its importance—and, if I might say so, its wonderful celebration by the noble Baroness, Lady Rebuck. Culture and our consequent creative industries provide social glue and are an engine of economic growth—and my goodness does our country need both. We, like the noble Baroness, Lady Bottomley, welcome the review of Arts Council England by the noble Baroness, Lady Hodge, including her endorsement of the arm’s-length principle and the need to properly fund big national organisations. They support smaller regional ones, contributing to the talent pipeline and to touring, as well as providing international reach. We also welcome strengthening regional decision-making through new regional boards.

I will again address skills. For our creative sector to thrive, we need a skilled workforce, but creative education has been almost eroded from our state schools. This has serious implications for the creative sector. We are relieved that the Government’s new, revised curriculum aims to address this, but I ask the Minister to give us the timetable.

Next is the nurturing of skills. The recent creative industries skills audit paints a sobering picture. Necessary skills are changing at speed. Continuing development of the workforce is essential. The apprenticeship system needs to be more flexible to fit a freelance workforce, and the new growth and skills levy must be put to good use. Will the Minister listen to the industry’s needs and asks? Also, can she tell us when the freelance champion will be appointed and what the terms of reference will be?

Then there are the calamitous consequences of Brexit. The ability to access the continent involves complicated paperwork, carnets, cabotage and visas, which inflict punishing costs and red tape across the creative sector. In addition, our young people have been cut off from European culture. We must pursue visa waivers and a youth mobility scheme and apply to participate in Creative Europe.

Finally, and crucially, I turn to the BBC. Recent Reuters Institute data shows that the BBC remains the most trusted source of news not just for the UK but for the world. In an era of disinformation and social media silos, the BBC stands as a beacon of accuracy and impartiality. However, the BBC is not just about the news; it develops and invests in talent and R&D; it is radio stations, podcasts, orchestras, Bitesize, BBC online, iPlayer, the World Service and BBC Sounds; and it is David Attenborough. It is the glue that I referred to earlier. It plays a pivotal role in promoting the UK around the world, through both the programmes it exports and the World Service, which is ever more important now that President Trump has cut off funds to the Voice of America. It has also drawn American streamers to our shores.

Audience viewing patterns are changing. The BBC has responded—its new partnership with YouTube creates BBC content, including news, for YouTube viewers—but we need to help PSBs navigate this new environment. Does the Minister agree that the provisions of the Media Act on prominence and discoverability must be properly enforced and strengthened? We on these Benches applaud the Secretary of State’s support for the BBC, but we have some asks. All non-executives to the BBC board and the chair should be independently appointed, and the Government should maintain long-term public funding for the BBC, crucially protecting the principle of universality.

This is of course against the backdrop of that 10-year event, charter renewal, so I have another request: the need for renewal should go and the BBC should have a forever charter. Without that and in the wrong hands—Farage-like hands—the charter can simply be terminated on its last day. There would be no negotiations and no BBC—it would be gone. I end with the words of the embodiment of the BBC and PSB, Sir David Attenborough:

“Every section of society, for one reason or another, should be glad that the BBC is there”.