Labour to review regional divide on arts cash

The Barnsley East MP used his Labour Party conference speech to warn that arts funding could be hit in the Government’s spending review this autumn as councils cut their arts spending as they try to balance their books.

The Yorkshire Post has previously revealed Arts Council England spends around £32.77 per person in the capital compared to £11.46 in Yorkshire.

Mr Dugher promised Labour would “campaign for sustained investment in the arts and culture, and in grassroots sport”.

He continued: “But we also need a fundamental re-think into how funding is allocated.

“We’ve got to tackle the regional disparities, the need to improve access for working class kids and the need to ensure fairness in funding across the sectors.”

He said a review into investment into arts and culture would lead to a new national plan,

Mr Dugher also criticised the Government for looking to shrink the BBC as part of its negotiations over the future of the corporation’s royal charter.

He described the BBC as the “cornerstone of the creative industries in this country” telling the Conservatives to “keep your mitts off the BBC”.

“For every one pound of licence fee spent, two pounds is generated in economic activity.

“Like the NHS, the BBC is one of the institutions that makes Britain great.

“There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world,” he said.

The Shadow Culture Secretary also revealed he had enjoyed the benefits of his new role after Labour’s leader asked him to attend the opening game of the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham.

Mr Dugher told the conference: “I said: ‘Jeremy, these are precisely the kind of sacrifices I’m prepared to make for socialism’.”