Watch Keir Starmer speech on the arts and Beverley Knight, James Norton and Jason Manford backing Labour’s plans

Beverley Knight, Jason Manford and James Norton are among the celebrities backing Labour’s plans for the arts industry ahead of a Keir Starmer speech on Thursday morning.

Actors, artists and comedians have endorsed the party’s proposals to allow for greater access to the arts for children by better incorporating creative subjects into the curriculum. We will share a livestream on this page to watch Keir Starmer’s speech to creative industry leaders in London, expected mid-morning.

In a video, Happy Valley star James Norton, singer-songwriter Beverley Knight and comedian Jason Manford joined others across the industry in backing the proposals.

James Norton, who has recently starred in the biographical drama Bob Marley: One Love, said: “I support the Labour Party’s ambition when it comes to making the arts accessible to all children, particularly in regards to their ambitions around the school’s curriculum, reintegrating the arts into kids’ lives.”

Beverley Knight said that she also backed the party’s goals and said she had benefited from access to the arts as a child.

She said: “I support Labour’s ambition to allow all children to pursue their passions in the creative space because I was one of those children.”

Jason Manford said that the “next Prime Minister” had committed to support the arts “around the country” and “go back to school and make sure drama, art, music are on the curriculum”.

Apprentice star Mike Soutar also backed Labour’s plans and said: “We are seeing too many children shut out of the opportunity to enjoy creative subjects at school and outside. I support the Labour Party because I support the right of every child to have access to the creative subjects they can build their lives on.”

In a speech, being attended by representatives from across the arts industry, Keir Starmer will argue that the huge economic potential of the UK’s creative industries can only be harnessed through better access to the arts for all.

He is expected to say: “The creative industries have the power and potential for levelling up like nothing else.

“We will work together, hand in glove with our creative industries. No more sticking plaster politics. A long term, comprehensive plan for a decade of national renewal.

“Together, we will raise the next generation of creatives and harness the power of your industry to create wealth in every community.”

Starmer will also pledge an end to ticket touts ripping off music fans by capping resale prices and giving the Competition and Markets Authority the powers necessary to regulate resale platforms.

He said: “Access to music, art and theatre for hard-working Brits can’t be at the mercy of ruthless ticket touts driving up prices.

“Hours spent refreshing ticket resale websites only to pay through the nose to see an artist you love is frustrating and unfair. Labour will cap resale prices and ban ticket hoarding. Culture should be for fans, not excessive profits.”

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