Bectu responds to today’s budget

This afternoon, the Chancellor delivered his Autumn budget and spending review, which included very little to support the creative industries and the self-employed workforce.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs says: “While there were some welcome announcements in the Budget, such as the extension of creative tax reliefs, overall this was a missed opportunity to help boost our world leading creative industries.

“The creative industries were hit hard by the pandemic and should be front and centre of our economic recovery- and yet the government are only providing a paltry £14m a year to help the sector get back on its feet.

“Spending 7% of the budget of the latest James Bond film is hardly a game changer for a sector and will leave it neither shaken nor stirred.

“Finally, it was disappointing that the Chancellor hardly mentioned the self-employed during his speech. After eighteen months of falling through the gaps in government support schemes, many self-employed workers remain excluded, with next to nothing in this Budget providing help and support after a pandemic which left thousands struggling to stay afloat financially.”