Creative Industries: Freelance Champion

Baroness Buscombe Excerpts

Thursday 22nd January 2026 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Clancarty (CB)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Buscombe (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Wigley (PC)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Baroness Stedman-Scott (Con)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Buscombe (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Lab Co-op)]

We will hear from the Conservative Benches next, then the Cross Benches.

[Baroness Buscombe (Con)]

My Lords, is one of the problems not that, in spite of the creative industries enjoying vast subsidies recently and throughout Covid—the Government were very generous—there are scant employment rights? The noble Baroness asked about freelancers, but the industry is rife with people who are nepotistic and people who say, “Come and work for us, but we cannot pay you”. Will the Government please track where those huge subsidies are going? I think I know; I think they are going to what are called non-executive and executive producers. Where is the money going in terms of employment rights?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

There is strong evidence, including in the report from the trade union Bectu that was published last year, on some of the real issues that the noble Baroness identified within the creative industries. They particularly affect freelancers, who struggle with a huge range of issues—everything from late payment through to not getting paid or not having pensions. The Government are determined to strengthen employment rights, not least to help people thrive in good-quality self-employment. These are some of these issues that the freelance champion will need to look at to make sure that we get the type of creative industries that are fair to all those involved.