I am afraid that the whole situation is one which has occurred before. The government finds it much easier to bring in legislation that hits minority interests (and lets face it Folk Music is) than to take on any issue which has support from a large percentage of the populace and even more important large commercial interests. Banning fox-hunting and the ownership of (licensed) hand-guns are both example (I use these only as example - don't thread-creep about them).

It is very noticeable that exemptions can be made for wide-screen television viewing of football - I bet there'd be a huge outcry if a publican was prosecuted because he'd allowed the fans to sing during a match without a PEL.

The faceless industrialists who have been gradually trying to steer society into a dummed-down, advertising/fashion led, planned obsolescence, market economy have no place for Folk Music. They probably remember that the Folk Music boom in the 60's was closely linked with protest song and anti-establishment views - not the compliant "buy it and don't question things" one that they want. They (especially the music industry) want people to buy fashionable products which when they achieve market saturation are replaced by the next one. The Folk Music movement, horror of horrors, makes a virtue of re-using old music over and over again !

The leaders of the current government were probably brought up on pop music and regard Folk Music with a level of derision - often born out of fear - they probably know that many changes (including the labour movement) were spearheaded by marchers singing songs !