Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 30 Jun 2025 Arts Sector
"My Lords, I declare an interest as a trustee of the Lowry in Salford, which has a successful public-private mixed economy model, as mentioned by the noble Earl, but this depends on our relationship with subsidised national organisations. The National Theatre’s “Dear England” is currently being performed across our stages …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech
"My Lords, 80% of the World Service budget is currently classed as official development assistance. Last time this Question came up, the Minister said that the Government would make detailed decisions on how the ODA budget would be used on the basis of various factors, including impact assessments. Can he …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech
"My Lords, as was said by the two previous speakers, the results of Brexit are causing absolute havoc with the abilities of our creatives to tour. I want to pick up the cabotage rules, which limit the number of stops a British vehicle can make in the EU to three. …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech
"My Lords, while the T-word across the pond is “tariffs”, here our film industry has been thriving thanks to tax credits. They have been a game-changer—the kind of investment that President Trump wants to repatriate. Whatever his plans—and I think the Minister mentioned this—should we not be looking to make …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech
"My Lords, we need assurance that this Government understand the vital role that journalists play in bearing witness, and the crisis that is enveloping journalism across the world. Journalists are increasingly being harassed, imprisoned and killed with impunity. As the noble Baroness, Lady Mobarik, mentioned, in Gaza and the West …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech
"My Lords, like my noble friend Lord Fowler, I was a journalist, but I worked for an independent production company and made documentaries for the BBC. One was about Osama bin Laden, and I was almost driven to a nervous breakdown by the scrutiny the BBC put the programme under, …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech
"My Lords, I join in thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Thornton, for initiating this debate. She and I have served on committees together, and I know and appreciate her genuine support for culture and creativity. I congratulate and welcome the three maiden speakers, who are champions of the creative industries, …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech
"My Lords, local authority expenditure has fallen dramatically in recent years, as has DCMS grant in aid. Heritage organisations are struggling with managing and maintaining both buildings and the natural environment. The National Trust’s new 10-year strategy highlights this. As well as bricks and mortar, the National Trust includes the …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech
"My Lords, creatives in the cultural sector need their intellectual property to be protected—as a key source of their livelihoods—as well as their human rights. This is being actively threatened by artificial intelligence—“theft” is the word that the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, used in this Chamber—because when it comes to …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech
"My Lords, it was a bittersweet moment for me when we heard about the fall of President Assad, because my great friend Marie Colvin was a brave and brilliant journalist in Homs whom we now think was targeted by him. Picking up on what my noble friend Lady Hooper—if I …..." Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury - View Speech