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ISBA and IPA Criticise "Revolving Door" of Culture Ministers

07/02/2023
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London, UK
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As the British government sees its 11th culture minister in 10 years, the UK professional bodies for marketing and advertising drew attention to a lack of continuity for the sector
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The UK's marketing and advertising professional bodies criticised Rishi Sunak's cabinet reshuffle today, voicing disapproval at another new culture minister being appointed. The IPA and ISBA condemned the instability resulting from the fact that in the past 10 years, 11 politicians have now held the position of secretary of state for the department for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS).


Paul Bainsfair, director general of the IPA, as the professional body representing the UK advertising agency business, said:

“The revolving door of culture ministers continues unabated. If anything, it appears to be speeding up, after just five months this time.

“We very much hope the Rt Hon Lucy Frazer MP’s appointment as secretary of state for culture, media and sport, will be a passing of the baton from the hope and promise provided by the Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP during her short tenure. A self-proclaimed ally of our business, Michelle understood the power, prowess and value of our industry, and the need – as she said in her own words – “to protect the things that make this country great, and our world-renowned creative industries are right up there at the top of the list.” Crucially, her words were backed up by action, most notably in her wise counsel to the prime minister not to proceed with the sale to Channel 4.

“In this vein, we look forward to working with Lucy Frazer and her colleagues, and to understanding further detail on how the splitting up of the Government’s BEIS and DCMS departments into four new portfolios – the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology; the combined Department for Business and Trade; and the re-focused Department for Culture, Media and Sport - will affect the different areas of our business. So far, we understand that the Online Safety Bill will continue under the remit of Michelle Donelan in her new role of Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, although we are yet to find out whether this will also include the Online Advertising Programme. With advertising playing a fundamental part in the UK’s culture and media, as well as trade (UK and international) and business, our agencies will no doubt have their feet in several of these new camps.”


In response to the cabinet reshuffle by Rishi Sunak, Rob Newman, director of public affairs, ISBA said:

“After a period of prolonged instability, it was starting to feel as if politics was settling down into something resembling business as usual, with a focus on policy and government meaningfully engaging with our sector. We are therefore concerned that we appear to be climbing back onboard the merry-go-round – not just in terms of ministerial jobs, but also in terms of government departments.

We of course welcome Lucy Frazer to her role as culture secretary, although it is dismaying that we have now had 11 secretaries of state for that department in 10 years. But with DCMS now shorn of digital policy, it is unclear where responsibility for some of the most pressing concerns for our sector lies.

We hope that we will swiftly have clarity from the government as to ministers’ portfolios, given that we are immediately engaged on issues such as the UK’s post-Brexit data regime, online safety legislation, and the future of public service broadcasting.

Advertising and marketing underpin the UK economy. It is reported that the reshuffle is intended to focus the Government on growth, but changes to the machinery of government which confuse the sectors that power that growth are not ideal. We look forward to engaging with relevant Ministers and officials in the coming weeks and months.”



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