Labour Party Launches Creative Industries Network In UK

The Labour party has launched the Creative Industries Network in the United Kingdom as a means of increasing the impact that arts and education have on the state. Shadow culture secretary Ivan Lewis argued that the current Conservative-run government has reduced the global impact of these sectors, including video games, in the UK, reports newspaper The Independent. "The Conservative-led government has so far failed to provide the strategic leadership which is urgently required," he said, "and in education and the arts, they are implementing policies which are damaging the foundations of our creative success." He continued, "Our challenge is to match our cutting edge creative ideas with an equally creative global business strategy which ensures we can benefit from the new jobs and growth of the future." TIGA, the trade association that represents the UK games industry, welcomed the news, stating, "The UK economy has experienced anaemic growth over the last year." "If we are to rebalance the economy away from an over dependence upon financial services and to power economic growth then we must support the industries of the future where the UK has a competitive advantage." He noted that if the UK games industry is to reach its economic potential, Games Tax Relief must be introduced for developers and businesses in the sector.