Scottish Musicians Back MU Free Movement Campaign

The Proclaimers’ Craig and Charlie Reid, Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross, Idlewild’s Rod Jones, Hue and Cry’s Pat Kane and singer-songwriter Rab Noakes have signed the Musicians’ Union petition calling for free movement for musicians working in the European Union post-Brexit.

The Proclaimers’ Craig and Charlie Reid, Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross, Idlewild’s Rod Jones, Hue and Cry’s Pat Kane and singer-songwriter Rab Noakes have signed the Musicians’ Union petition calling on Government and Parliament to support free movement for musicians working in the European Union post-Brexit with minimum administrative burdens.

Speaking to The Herald in support of our campaign, Craig and Charlie Reid said that Brexit "will make working across Europe much more difficult and limit the chances for bands starting out to do their first gigs on the continent.

“It also sends out completely the wrong message to musicians from Europe who make a living in Scotland,” they added.

Idlewild guitarist and songwriter Rod Jones told the newspaper, “Freedom of movement for artists in Europe is more important than ever.

"With live revenue making up the main share of most musicians’ income any restriction on touring and additional costs such as visas will hit artists hard.”

Read the full report, with more from Craig and Charlie Reid, Pat Kane, Rod Jones and Rab Noakes, via The Herald.

What next?

SNP MSP Tom Arthur will lead a Holyrood debate on how Brexit will affect Scotland’s musicians and music industry on Wednesday 25 October.

The Musicians’ Union (MU) will also be there, with a drop-in session in the evening for MSPs.

We are asking MSPs to sign a pledge promising to do all they can to ensure musicians can travel freely and easily in the European Union (EU) post-Brexit, with minimum administrative burdens, for activities such as touring and performing.

MU members in Scotland are encouraged to write to their MSP via Write to Them asking them to attend and put their name to the pledge.

More ways to get involved

If your MP hasn’t signed the pledge to protect free movement for musicians, you can ask them to take action now.

We also encourage members in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to get in touch with their MSPs, AMs and MLAs in the same way.

You can add your voice to our call for free movement by signing the petition via Change.org.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook to get the latest campaign news.
  
And why not take this opportunity to get more involved in your Union. Find out how.

Free movement for musicians is just one our five key Brexit issues. Find out more via our Brexit hub, theMU.org/Brexit.