Labour

Labour has drawn up plans that would force film production companies to ensure gender equality and diversity on set, following fresh evidence of the slow pace of change in the movie industry. Under a future Labour government, the party announcedon Sunday vital high-end tax relief, worth hundreds of millions a year, will be made dependent on a fairer, more inclusive mix of cast and crew on any film. The term “inclusion rider” first leaped to prominence at the Oscar ceremony in Los Angeles last month as Hollywood actors cheered best actress Frances McDormand, when she called upon her fellow stars to demand more roles for women and for actors of colour whenever they accept a lead role. McDormand, who won the award for her performance as the bereaved mother Mildred Hayes in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, left the stage with the rallying cry: “I have two words to leave you with tonight. Inclusion rider.” Much of the private funding available to major film … [Read more...] about Labour to address lack of diversity in British film with new tax relief rules

Labour is challenging Theresa May to settle the UK’s future customs deal with the EU “once and for all” by holding a crunch vote on Wednesday. In a letter to the Prime Minister, seen by HuffPost UK, Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has offered to give up parliamentary time set aside for Labour to ensure a meaningful vote on a post-Brexit customs union with the EU. Parliamentary pressure is growing on the Tories to keep the UK in a customs union with the EU after Brexit. Last week the Lords voted in favour of keeping that option open during negotiations with Brussels, and this Thursday a non-binding backbench vote will be held in the Commons on the same issue. In a letter to the PM, Sir Keir accused the Government of dragging its feet over getting the future customs policy through Parliament out of fear of defeat. He said: “The debate about our future custom arrangements with the EU is now reaching a crunch point. “Yet your decision to delay … [Read more...] about Labour Challenges May To Hold Customs Union Vote This Week To Settle Issue ‘Once And For All’