Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, included Orwell, Engels, Boyle and Take That in her first major speech in Manchester last night.
The event at MOSI brought together 150 representatives of the creative industries, sport, media, youth services, tourism and the arts.
“A few years ago I sat down with Danny Boyle, who hails from just down the road in Radcliffe. He says he’s from Bury, but he’s actually from Radcliffe.
“And I asked him how a country that could unite so decisively around the inspiring and inclusive story of the 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony could descend so quickly into anger and polarisation and division,” she said.
“I asked him where has that country had gone.
“And he said simply, that it is still there. But it is waiting for someone to give voice to it again.
“And that is my firm belief that this country, as George Orwell said, lies beneath the surface.
“And it will be heard. Not out of some technocratic notion of fulfilling quotas, getting out of London, but because that voice has a spirit and energy our country desperately needs to hear.”
She told the audience, which included representatives Warner Bros, Amazon, BBC, Paramount, Premier League, Sky, Channel 4 and Royal Shakespeare Company in Manchester:
“It was just down the road in Salford that Engels wrote ‘The Condition of the Working Class’ in a city that was the driving force of the industrial revolution.
“That spirit lives on in my favourite museum – the People’s History Museum. It’s funded by the councils of Greater Manchester, and there’s a reason that we do. These are the councils who have always understood that the history of ordinary people and the ideas that drove them can not just help us not just to interpret the past, but can help us navigate the future.
“That museum reminds us that change doesn’t come easily. It took the battle of Peterloo to enfranchise the men who were building our country – and far too long before our women won that right too. But today I see that spirit at work right here amongst the amazing Mancunian women like Erinma Bell who leads the battle against the violence that scars a generation and shames our country and is a priority for our Government.
“This was the city that gave the world the first free library – the Central Reference Library – which stands as a shining testament to how much the mothers and fathers of this city not only believed in our people, but cherished our culture.”
Nandy also spoke about the “pioneering journalism” in the city.
“From Granada TV and its pioneering journalism, whether the campaign to free the Birmingham Six to the persistent approach to telling the story of Hillsborough and achieving justice for the 96 – to today’s Manchester Evening News that has defied the odds to become one of the most groundbreaking papers in the country and reminds us all why local and regional papers matter so much.
“As the late great Tony Wilson said, ‘this is Manchester – we do things differently here’.
“That drive, that creativity, that inclusion, that willingness to do things differently. That is the spirit of our new Government.”
She explained that this “spirit” would be seen through a review of the curriculum to “put creative and sports opportunities back at the heart of a richer, larger life for every single child.”
It would also be achieved through partnerships with mayors, councils, businesses and charities.
“We’re putting rocket boosters under our growing industries – film and theatre, TV, fashion, video games, heritage and tourism – to take the brakes off the economy, create opportunity for every child and to export our incredible talent across the world,” she continued.
“And through my drive to ensure the public appointments that we make truly reflect our country in all its glorious diversity. Not to fulfil a quota, but to ensure that our government draws on the creative might of all of our people.
“This is the spirit this city has always embodied.
“And this is the country that we can be.
“When we turn to face the nation again in five years’ time, it is our ambition that we will face a self-confident country, at ease with itself, where all of our people see themselves in the story we tell ourselves about ourselves as a nation – their contribution seen and valued.
“And that work will be the privilege of my life.”
She concluded:
“I will not pretend it is easy.
“But growing up here, with my background taught me that whatever people say – we can move mountains.
“And when I said I wanted to do this – our first national event in Manchester – they said you wouldn’t come.
“But you did.
“And my message to each and every one of you is that if you share that belief in our country. If you have that zest to make change. If you want to challenge us and are willing to be challenged in turn.
“Then I promise you. That we will walk alongside you. We will have your back. And we will give voice to the country many of us have believed in all our lifetime but never quite yet seen.
“As the great Mancunian band Take That once said:
“’We’ve come so far. And we hope for more.’”
“The next chapter in our country’s story is about to be written. What it looks like – is up to us.”
The speech came after Nandy announced a commitment to the television licence fee for the remainder of the current Charter period until 2027.
“The UK is a creative industries powerhouse with a rightly deserved reputation for producing some of the world’s greatest artists, authors, producers and technicians. Across TV, film, books, music, sport and more, Amazon has invested more than £4 billion in the Creative Industries across the UK since 2010 and we welcome the Government’s ambitions for continued growth in the sector,” said Chris Bird, Managing Director Prime Video UK.
“Prime Video’s reach and impact extend nationwide, with productions from The Rig and Fear in Scotland, to Mammals in Cornwall and multiple productions in the North West of the UK, and last week we announced the acquisition of the iconic Bray Studio. Our £10 million skills, training and education, programme; Prime Video Pathway, is designed to open up access to the arts for people from every corner of the country too. The creative industries are driving material long-term growth, creating and developing exciting and fulfilling careers, and we look forward to partnering with the Government to continue this growth and fuel the ambitions for the next generation of UK creatives.”
Andrew Georgiou, President and Managing Director, Warner Bros. Discovery U.K & Ireland and WBD Sports Europe added:
“Warner Bros. Discovery has a proud UK heritage – present for over 90 years, with a significant employee base which extends North to South across 5 cities.
“The UK is our biggest base outside of the US and, in our view, one of the best places in the world to do business. We remain committed to the UK and our ambition to grow and strengthen our sector. It is only in partnership that we can continue to make standout British content, support and develop British creatives, and bring the British public access to the best in film, TV, gaming, streaming, news, sport and more. We look forward to a continued and productive relationship between Government and the industry.”
