PA welcomes Labour manifesto that 'champions' creative sectors as ALCS pushes for further change

The Publishers Association (PA) has welcomed Labour’s stance on the creative industries and research institutions, outlined in the manifesto that was released on Thursday 13th June. The Authors’ Licensing & Collecting Society (ALCS) also praised Labour’s position on education and opportunities, as well as its commitment to regulate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and support of freelances, but it said that more can be done to change the landscape for writers. 

The manifesto defines the party’s commitment to make culture more accessible to young people, and its goal to review the curriculum in schools to improve literacy, and introduce a more flexible Growth and Skills Levy. The manifesto also mentions Labour’s plan to create “good jobs” across the creative sectors, and its intention to regulate AI companies.

Supporting young people to study creative subjects until the age of 15 is one of the goals set out by Labour in the manifesto. An “expert-led” review of the curriculum and assessment in schools will also be carried out, to ensure that children are building strong reading and writing skills from an early age. “We warmly welcome the championing of creative subjects in schools and the commitment to more flexible apprenticeships,” said Dan Conway, c.e.o. of the PA. 

The ALCS also praised Labour’s manifesto for focusing on the role of culture in schools, and for addressing opportunities for young people. However, the organisation said that the party could go further in its support of writers.

AI is also high on the list of priorities, and the manifesto outlines Labour’s plan to create a new Regulatory Innovation Office that will work to improve regulatory processes. Companies developing AI models will be subject to “binding regulation” under a Labour government, the document adds.

“The commitment to implement Labour’s creative industries sector plan, which promised to uphold human creativity and the UK’s copyright regime, is to be strongly applauded,” Conway said. “While there’s no more specific detail on AI in the creative industries in the manifesto, we stand ready to ensure that our ongoing work on transparency requirements for AI companies continues.”

Conway praised the manifesto for responding to the recommendations highlighted in the PA’s “Vision for Publishing” report. Based on research carried out by the public policy consultancy Public First, the report suggests that the publishing industry can contribute an additional £5.6bn to the UK’s economy by 2033, supporting 43,000 more jobs. The help of the government is essential in order for the industry to achieve this, according to the PA, and Conway said that the association’s recommendations “are echoed throughout the manifesto”.

The PA c.e.o. also welcomed Labour’s trade strategy, which aims “to promote access to international markets”. He added: “Overall, this is a manifesto that champions the UK’s leading creative and research industries at home and abroad and will be welcomed by the publishing world as a strong indication of support for our sector.”

The ALCS praised Labour for its commitment to regulate AI developers, but added that the document “does not acknowledge the significant potential for AI to harm creators’ interests, and the need to protect their intellectual property”. In its statement, the organisation also applauded Labour’s commitment to British content, and its goal to “act on late payments” for freelance writers. 

“We urge all parties running in this election to affirm their support for the creative industries, a sector that generates more than £125billion in gross value for the economy,” said ALCS deputy chief executive Richard Combes. “Without the creators, there are no industries. In an increasingly challenging environment, we are calling on the next government to champion our world-class writers and other creators by guaranteeing fair remuneration, representation and rights.”