Labour promises festival for creative industries
Support for games industry tax relief reaffirmed; absent in Tory manifesto
Labour's election manifesto has re-affirmed the party's support for UK games industry tax relief, and pledged to establish a new Festival of Britain to showcase British talent across all of the creative industries.
"In every nation and region of Britain a wealth of creative talent – in industries ranging from film to fashion, design and video games – has flourished, and creative industries now account for ten per cent of the national economy," Labour said in its manifesto.
"Subject to state aid clearance, we will introduce a tax relief for the UK video games industry. We will support film festivals around the country, and establish a new biennial Festival of Britain, beginning in 2013, showcasing our major cultural achievements and young British talent across all of our creative industries."
Published today, the Conservative party's manifesto however contains just one passing reference to the games industry, in relation to the city of Glasgow.
"Glasgow is the hub of an important entrepreneurial sector, which includes innovative start-ups in fields such as mobile telephony and computer games," it states.
Following the announcement of a tax relief plan by the present government, both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have stated they will back its implementation should either of them take power following the upcoming May election.