Equity has welcomed announcements in today’s Chancellor’s speech, including the reinstatement of the Union Learning Fund (ULF) which the union says “will benefit so many working people with skills for the future.”
In a speech full of messages of hope, pride in Britain and a focus on reindustrialisation, the Chancellor also gave a shout out to British theatre and TV work, saying “our theatre, our tv shows, our fashion, and our music is treasured the world over.” Equity Ggeneral Ssecretary Paul W Fleming welcomed this, going on to say the union “would like him to build on that with government funding returning in real terms to the levels last seen under Labour in power.”
And on artificial intelligence, the Chancellor said he wanted the ULF “to come with a new focus – AI, harness it, not be overtaken by it.” While the Chancellor said Labour “won’t let AI leave Britain’s workers behind”, Equity responded with our call for personality rights to be introduced to ensure protection for performers and all people against unauthorised digital replicas.
John Healey, was making his first speech as Chancellor of the Exchequer at Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Labour is on a new track. Embedding trade unions in decision making and policy implementation across our economy is a good thing.
Paul W Fleming, Equity General Secretary
Responding in full, Paul W Fleming, Equity General Secretary, said:
“John Healey’s speech shows that Labour is on a new track. Embedding trade unions in decision making and policy implementation across our economy is a good thing. And Equity welcomes the reintroduction of the Union Learning Fund, something that will benefit so many working people with skills for the future.
“It was welcome to hear the Chancellor recognise that our theatre and television, are, as he put it, ‘treasured the world over’. However, we would like him to build on that with government funding returning in real terms to the levels last seen under Labour in power. Our creative industries are drivers of growth in every postcode, and are at the heart of cohesive communities and a tolerant, vibrant civic society.
“On AI, the promise from the Chancellor that Britain’s workers can harness it and not be left behind does not fully meet our needs for personality rights to protect both performers and all across society from unauthorised – and often malicious – digital replicas.”
