Photo: Gus Campbell Photography.
The MU once again had an extremely successful stand at the annual Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. This year, alongside our campaigning and lobbying work, we raised over £2,400 in donations for the MU Benevolent Fund.
Hundreds of delegates signed postcards to their MPs calling for action on ticket touting at the MU stand, which attracted plenty of interest again this year. The Union’s new anti-far right toolkit booklet was also very popular with delegates, many of whom took copies back for schools and community spaces.
Speaking directly to MPs about the issues affecting you
Numerous MPs dropped by the stand to discuss the issues facing musicians, including: Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy; Adam Jogee MP; Lee Barron MP; Kerry McCarthy MP; West Midlands Mayor Tracy Brabin; Stephen Doughty MP; James Naish MP; Chris Bloore MP; Andy McDonald MP; Peter Lamb MP; Alison McGovern MP; and Kim Johnson MP.
Preet Kaur Gill MP, Peers Kevin Brennan, David Evans and Thangam Debbonaire, Yasmin Qureshi MP, Rupa Huq MP, Mohammad Yasin MP, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Nadia Whittome MP, Bambos Charalambous MP and Michael Wheeler MP also met with the MU at Conference.
Talking to the Prime Minister about workers' rights
MU Assistant General Secretary Matt Wanstall, and Head of Government Relations Isabelle Gutierrez, met with the Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Deputy Leader Lucy Powell at a joint meeting of unions on the Sunday evening.
MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl also met with Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy, and Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray to discuss the BBC, AI and European Touring with them.
Making sure devolution works for workers
Naomi represented the MU at a packed-out panel organised by UK Music on the Monday morning. Discussing 'Putting Music at the Heart of Devolution', Naomi spoke about the importance of opportunities for musicians and career progression for young musicians.
She also made it clear that arbitrary devolution — such as what happened at English National Opera (ENO), where an existing organisation was just uprooted — does not work. It is also unacceptable to expect musicians who have built their lives in one area to be moved without proper consultation or planning.
The panel explored the problems that standstill funding has caused for music education. Joining Naomi on the panel were Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray MP; Alex Sobel MP, Co-Chair of the APPG on Music; Jo Twist, CEO of the BPI; and Eunice Obianagha, Head of Diversity at UK Music.
Representing musicians on the Conference stage
Naomi spoke on the MU’s motion, which called for jobs and opportunities for young musicians. She also spotlighted the challenge to opportunity posed by generative artificial intelligence (gen AI), low/no pay from music streaming and the rising cost of touring.
Her speech emphasised the importance of the BBC in creating jobs and opportunities for young musicians, and urged the Government to prioritise touring issues — both at home and abroad.
Watch Naomi's speech in full.
A policy packed speech by the Prime Minister
Andy Burnham delivered his first Leader's Speech as Prime Minister this Labour Conference. In it, he outlined his vision for a more hopeful UK, with announcements on the UK's relationship with the EU, artificial intelligence and electoral reform.
Responding to the policy-packed speech, MU General Secretary Naomi Pohl said: "We needed the hopeful message and a sense of more radical change, especially around the care system, our young people and tackling the impacts of Brexit.
“At the same time, I hope his plans for the AI sector will include a plan to ensure fair remuneration for creators and a plan to protect the creative industries as a whole.”
Read the Union's full response.
Sharing solidarity across the union movement
UCU (University and College Union) members in Nottingham are taking strike action to defend jobs and courses. Planned cuts include the suspension of music courses for new entrants.
The eleven trade unions affiliated to the Labour Party, known as the Labour Unions, also shared their solidarity with trans and non-binary members.
In a statement published on social media, the Labour Unions said: “Trans rights are human rights, and trans rights are workers' rights”.