Dave (centre left) with MU members Peredur ap Gwynedd and Marianne Sice, plus members of the European Movement and Liberal Democrat MPs Al Pinkerton and Anna Sabine.
On 9 June 2026, European Movement and Liberal Democrat MPs Al Pinkerton and Anna Sabine hosted a roundtable discussion at Portcullis House on the impact of the UK leaving the EU on touring artists and the wider creative industries.
The roundtable, chaired by Richard Kilpatrick from European Movement, also marked the launch of a new report by the European Movement, 'Creating Culture Together: A Practical Reset for UK-EU Creative Cooperation’.
A welcome opportunity to discuss next steps
Attending the roundtable were Dave Webster, MU Head of International and Co-Chair of the Cultural Exchange Coalition (CEC) who, together with Olga Fitzroy, Director of Campaigns & Engagement for UK Music presented the work of the CEC.
They discussed the next steps needed to ensure the Manifesto commitment made by the Labour Party and the Common Understanding last year, following the UK/EU Summit, is built upon at this year’s summit, and some tangible results are forthcoming.
Dave Webster said: “The roundtable was a welcome opportunity to again highlight the need for real progress to be made and to build on the commitments made so touring artists and the wider creative industries can actually start to see some tangible results from the reset between the UK and the EU. Congratulations to European Movement for producing an excellent report detailing the impact of the UK’s departure and the solutions needed to improve matters.”
MU members were also involved in the debate
MU Women Members Network Co Chair Marianne Sice also provided a report on the Network and how the UK’s departure from the EU has affected women musicians.
Marianne said: "I am very grateful to have been invited to attend and contribute on behalf of the MU Women’s Network. It was very encouraging to hear the futures of young and emerging artists considered throughout the discussions. A meeting with some very powerful stories shared and asks put forward to the UK government, whom we urge to take on board the recommendations and asks we bring forward."
Also involved in the debate was artist, MU member and Carry On Touring representative Peredur ap Gwyned, who said: "Another positive meeting, and now that there's a solution to the 90/180 day problem on the table, we need the UK Parliament and the EU to sit down together and discuss it."
The report provides six recommendations to the UK Government
European Movement's new report, 'Creating Culture Together: A Practical Reset for UK-EU Creative Cooperation’, outlines six main recommendations for how the UK Government can work to improve UK-EU creative cooperation and repair at least some of the damage Brexit has caused to the cultural and creative sectors.
It provides a practical reset for the musicians, performers, production teams and creative businesses whose work has been made harder, more expensive and less viable by Brexit red tape.
View the full report and its recommendations below.
View report and recommendations