The Minister now says that there will be an urgent review of this wretched act following concerns of just about everyone, except the Government, on the effect of extended drinking. I wonder if that review will extend to the dead hand of legislation on live music. Only if there is enough fuss I think.

On the Tories view of this, I am not sure, although my local MP David Davies has been supportive. It was the Lib Dem Piers however, that gave in on this, after being conned by the Government with its Morris Excemption. I remember the Lib Dems gave in at the last minute saying the government had done enough by removing the need for licensing acoustic music (not realising that this only applied to music backing Morris Dancing0   

There is a detailed critique of this act in the current edition of Criminal Law Review, seeting out the many vagaries and complications of this act, but it is heavy reading. I have sent copies to the Lawyers/Musicians Group.

This Act was supposed to be a peice of deregulation, not adding complexities and criminality as it has done.