Tag: Jo Stevens

Below is the text of the comments made by Jo Stevens, the Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, on 9 July 2020.

We welcome the opening of swimming pools, gyms and other leisure facilities as part of the easing of lockdown and the re-opening of the economy.

This news and the guidance about grassroots sports will be welcomed by millions across the UK who have missed the opportunity to exercise and play sport together.

Allowing outdoor theatres and music performances will also give hope to many in a sector which has largely shut down over the past few months and audiences desperate for entertainment. But there are real concerns around keeping staff safe when these venues reopen.

While the government’s failure to get test and trace properly running will mean that many do not feel confident enough to take part in these activities.

It is astonishing that the Secretary of State is only now commissioning research about the spread of the virus and these sectors – the Government needs to put sport and culture at the top of the agenda instead of it being an afterthought.

Below is the text of the comments made by Jo Stevens, the Shadow Culture Secretary, on 9 July 2020.

The refusal of the Government to fund this vital service after promising to do so is nothing short of betrayal.

Many over-75s have spent months at home with TV providing an invaluable source of company during the pandemic. For the Government to blame the BBC who are having to contend with huge cuts is simply passing the buck.

Below is the text of the comments made by Jo Stevens, the Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, on 22 June 2020.

Across the country, local and regional BBC reporting is a lifeline for communities, keeping people connected and informed.

Too often, politics and current affairs feel remote and London-centric. But local issues deserve a platform as much as those dominating at Westminster.

The Conservative Government has repeatedly tried to undermine our BBC, and the coronavirus crisis presents huge challenges for media organisations. But local reporting is vital for democracy and transparency. Despite the challenges it faces, we urge the BBC to protect local programmes.

Below is the text of the comments made by Jo Stevens, the Shadow Culture Secretary, on 15 June 2020.

This report lays bare truly shocking figures on the levels of harm caused by currently unregulated online gambling – and the mountain we have to climb to tackle the problem for good.

The Government must now act to protect those at risk. The report contains several long-overdue recommendations to safeguard players, from the banning of advertisements and VIP accounts to the introduction of online stake limits.

We need a regulated and safe gambling industry in the UK both for the industry itself and for those who are at risk from gambling-related harm.