PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Feb

Subject: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Fe
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 01:10 PM

This has come up on another thread, but people who are (not unreasonably) fed up with Kim Howells might miss it.

Anyway, Billy Bragg is on the Panel for Question Time on BBC1 TV tonight (Feb 6th), and there seems a good chance that the matter of theLicencing Bill, and the restrictions on live music it threatens to impose on us in Engkand and Wales, might be one of the topics that get discussed.

Billy Bragg has been actively involved in kicking up a fuss about this. This could be quite important, since people watch Question Time who don't read the few papers which have had anything about this.

Question Time can be watched via the internet, and they keep it on archive at least for the next week - the programme is on at 10.35 ourt time in Engkand, which makes it 4.35 on the East Coast of Americam and so forth.

The site has provision for interactive comments duringbthe programme, and for feedback afterwards.

I've sent an email saying I hope they'll discuss the ban on live musiuc in public places in England and Wales which don't have entertainment licences, and I hope a few more people will do the same. Maybe it won't make any difference, but it can't do any harm, and it's free.

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Fe
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 01:13 PM

Up we go...

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Fe
From: The Shambles
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 02:10 PM

This local press campaign is interresting. From the Western Morning Press.

DON'T LET MINISTER SILENCE OUR MUSIC


09:00 - 01 February 2003

It takes a special kind of ministerial incompetence to draft a new law which threatens to make criminals out of the two blokes who sing and play a bit of guitar down at the Dog and Duck every Friday night. But it looks like New Labour, and its Minister for Culture, Kim Howells, may be more than equal to the task.

Because the Government's proposed overhaul of the Licensing Act, which covers public performances in pubs, village halls and other venues, will do just that, making even the most modest musical performance illegal without an expensive licence, effectively killing off live music at the vital grass roots level.

The changes to the Licensing Bill, which could come into force as early as next year, will have a devastating impact on live events, introducing a totally unnecessary set of new regulations that will threaten hundreds of performers and do untold damage to the Westcountry tourist business. They will also deliver a kick in the teeth to many community shows and threaten fundraising charity concerts.

The only public performances that the Government has apparently conceded can take place without a costly licence are an impromptu burst of Happy Birthday, a spontaneous singalong in a pub or club, and the hymns in church. But, given New Labour's record for wanting to legislate against anything people actually enjoy, who knows what might be next for the statute book?

The legislation, now making its way through Parliament, would abolish the regulations which allow up to two musicians to play in a pub without a music licence. And it would also force hundreds of village hall committees, which currently escape costly licences for putting on charity shows and community concerts, to pay heavily for the privilege.

This is more than just an annoying piece of new bureaucracy. This is a full-blown assault on a long-standing tradition which could have a genuinely damaging effect on a region like the Westcountry and seriously stifle creativity.

Live music is an already threatened commodity in our pre-recorded, video age, with what passes for entertainment available at the press of a button or a flick of a switch. Yet the tradition of the folk duos, the pub singers, the pianist in the corner tickling the ivories and the rowdy busker bashing out requests, lives on in many of our pubs and clubs.

Long may it continue to do so, since it is the breeding ground for the singers and musicians now recognised and rewarded as superstars. It also gives enormous pleasure to the audiences of countless performers who have no ambition higher than topping the bill in the local saloon bar.

What on earth does the Government hope to gain by putting all of that in jeopardy? Kim Howells rejoices in the title of Minister of State for Culture, Sport and the Media. If this Bill goes through Parliament in his name, then he will have no right whatsoever to the Culture part of that title. Culture, as Mr Howells surely understands, doesn't begin and end at the Royal Shakespeare Company, the opera house and the ballet. It is as much about ordinary people entertaining themselves and each other with a few songs in their own communities, whether in the pub, the community centre or the village hall.

Why put that at risk with this change in the rules? For the Treasury, the extra licensing fees won't amount to much more than a drop in the ocean. Yet the cost to an individual pub or a village hall committee is likely to be enough to persuade the landlord, manager or chairman to conclude that the live music has got to go.

That cannot and must not be allowed to happen. That's why the Western Morning News is today calling on readers to sign our protest forms and send them back to us, so that we can pass them on to the Minister. Acclaimed singer Billy Bragg, who made his first musical forays on the pub and club scene, has made his opposition to this change in the law very clear. Equally angry are the dedicated musicians from Crediton-based touring group the Pennymoor Singaround, who are backing our campaign.

If the Government believes this legislation is a good idea, then it is more out of touch with ordinary people than we thought. And if it didn't foresee the impact such changes would have, then it is just plain incompetent. Either way there is still time to stop this law from being enacted. And with enough support we can do it.

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Fe
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 05:08 PM

That could well help with the audience - the programme (in 30 minutes) is from Dartmouth, which I think is in the cachement area of the Western Daily Press. In any case it's in Somerset, where Kim Howells "Hell is folksingers" casused a hoohah.

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Fe
From: Ed.
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 05:14 PM

This has come up on another thread, but people who are (not unreasonably) fed up with Kim Howells might miss it.

Any ideas for those who are (not unreasonably) fed up with far too many PEL threads?

Ed

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Fe
From: Folkiedave
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 05:15 PM

As a non-telly person would someone be kind enough to post any PEL stuff.....the gist will do.............

Dave

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Fe
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 07:04 PM

What's your problem if they are prefixed with PEL, Ed? Why on earth did you open this one?

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Fe
From: Col K
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 07:16 PM

Watched the whole programme not a flipping mention. What a waste long discussion on Iraq how surprising then Michael Jackson how boring

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Feb
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 06 Feb 03 - 07:22 PM

And the House of Lords...

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Feb
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 04:18 AM

So Billy Bragg's presence as a musician was to answer the question 'Michael Jackson -- bad, mad or sad?' How pathetic!!

BJ

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Feb
From: Nemesis
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 04:56 AM

I think we should feedback on the website dissatisfaction with the way Bragg's expertise (etc) was squandered etc

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Feb
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 06:16 AM

Bullfrog:
"So Billy Bragg's presence as a musician was to answer the question 'Michael Jackson -- bad, mad or sad?' How pathetic!!"

It was probably more to the point that he was available in case either question came up. The host (Dimbleby) is regularly at pains to point out that the guests have no pre-knowledge of the questions to be raised, but that they will be aware that the questions are likely to be about questions currently in the news.
The guest list is usually available at least one week in advance, and the Michael Jackson TV expose would not have been aired that early.

Nigel

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Feb
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 06:28 AM

It's interesting to note that in the BBC's list of Panel Guests the section for Billy Bragg does indeed mention the PEL debate.

Nigel

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Feb
From: Bullfrog Jones
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 06:38 AM

Nigel --- don't be pedantic, either way it's pathetic!

BJ

Subject: RE: PEL: Billy Bragg on Question Time 6th Feb
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 07 Feb 03 - 06:46 AM

BJ: I'm not being pedantic. Had a question on PELs been raised then I am sure Billy Bragg would have given an excellant response. Unfortunately, the Panel do not choose the questions. The questions are put forward by members of the public, to whom "Wacko Jacko" and the happenings on Eastenders are more talked about than the effect of PELs.
Of course there is also the fact that the programme producers 'vet' the questions, and seem to have a tendency to support the current governmemnt, so maybe such a question was sent in originally. But the panellists can't debate a question which has not been put to them (hard as some may try!)

Nigel