The success of pilot testing in April could determine whether Reading Festival goes ahead this summer, the council has said. After a councillor downplayed claims the festival would return this summer on Friday (February 26), Reading Borough Council (RBC) has struck a more optimistic note in a new statement on the event, saying it would “love it to return”. This follows the announcement from Festival Republic last Wednesday (February 24) that it expects the event to go ahead this August, with the event selling out just days later. A council spokesman said: “Reading Festival is a major highlight of the cultural calendar in Reading and, like everyone, the council would love to see it return this summer.
It says the global standing and economic success of the industry, from hit West End shows like Matilda The Musical and Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, to UK orchestras and dance companies, is at stake.
They depend on the relationship with European venues, promoters and audiences, and on the flow of talent, it says.
Giles Watling MP, who is co-chairman of the Theatre APPG, said that “significant obstacles have emerged that threaten our world-leading performing arts exports and imports, which also puts their economic, social and cultural contributions at risk.”
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Events was re-established in November in 2020, with Theresa Villiers MP, Member of Parliament for Chipping Barnet, taking on the role of chair.
Villiers took over from James Heappey MP, who was chair for four years, but stood down once he was appointed Minister for the Armed Forces at the end of 2019.
Officers elected to the group include Robert Largan MP, Mark Menzies MP, Robert Seely MP, Owen Thompson MP, Andrew Slaughter MP, Stephen Hammond MP, Rachel Hopkins MP, and Debbie Abrahams MP. They act as vice chairs.
But what does an All-Party Parliamentary Group actually do?
Most Influential 2020: V-Z
The V-Z section of the list includes Stockton South MP Matt Vickers, Sage founder Graham Wylie and leading figures from the worlds of education, business and the media
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ANNA MIKHAILOVA: The newbie MP making lobbying a family affair By Anna Mikhailova For The Mail On Sunday 00:59 13 Dec 2020, updated 01:07 13 Dec 2020 shares
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Before becoming a Tory MP, Paul Bristow ran a consulting firm. He also chaired the Public Affairs Board, which self-regulates the lobbying industry.
On entering Parliament in 2019, Bristow handed the consultancy to his wife and its chairmanship to sister-in-law Emma Petela.
However, Bristow forgot to declare Petela s lobbying work for GK Strategy, which takes a keen interest in health policy. Coincidentally, so does Bristow, now a member of the Commons Health Committee.
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The MP only declared Petela s role after being alerted by blogger Dr Alex May. And what did the Standards Commissioner say about this breach of the MPs Code of Conduct? That as a new boy to the parliamentary game, he won t get even a slap on the wrist.