Ministers rule out rethink to rescue visa-cost-free excursions by musicians, insisting ‘control of borders’ ought to occur initial

Ministers have turned down calls for a rethink to rescue visa-free of charge tours by musicians of the EU – insisting “taking back control” of borders must appear to start with.

Answering an urgent issue in the Commons, Caroline Dinenage insisted talks would resume only if Brussels “changes its mind” about how to resolve the stalemate

The culture minister admitted – as The Independent revealed – that the EU’s proposal was thrown out mainly because of a dread it clashed with ending totally free motion of men and women right after Brexit.

She claimed it would have enabled “visa-no cost short stays for all EU citizens” – even even though admitting it would have protected only a “very compact number of compensated activities”.

“That is just simply not appropriate with our manifesto dedication to using back regulate of our borders,” she instructed MPs.

Below force, Ms Dinenage did concur to take into account publishing all correspondence to expose particularly what transpired in the unsuccessful negotiations.

But she produced crystal clear the government’s purpose now was to operate with individual EU members states – “to come across means to make life easier” for musicians – instead than reopen talks in Brussels.

That would only materialize if the EU agreed to the Uk proposal underneath so-termed ‘mode 4’ exemptions, which the EU argues is for professionals, delivering contracted expert services, not performers.

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Its much extra formidable proposal would have eradicated the menace of work visas – for 90 days, not just 30 – for a carved-out record of “paid activities”, together with new music excursions.

In spite of Brexit, EU citizens can occur to the Uk as travelers for up to six months in any case, the common period for foreign website visitors exempt from visas.

Nonetheless, Ms Dinenage advised the Commons the EU offer you would have opened the doorway to “permanent visa-totally free quick stays for all EU citizens” – breaching the Tory assure to voters.

She also claimed the EU’s proposals would not have “covered guidance staff members or technicians”, though it is thought the British isles refused to even open up talks on that.

Pete Wishart, the SNP MP who secured the urgent issue, referred to his days touring in Europe with the band Runrig.

“Touring Europe means almost everything to our artists and musicians. The thrill of that initially tour, crammed into the Transit van with all your equipment, 4 to a space in a low cost hotel in Paris, Rotterdam or Hamburg. Applying what is actually left of the charge for a put up-gig beer,” he mentioned.

“The dream that when you arrive back again it will be a lavish tour bus, keeping in 5-star hotels.

“Gone, all long gone. Musicians and artists mere collateral in this government’s obsession in ending flexibility of movement.”

But Ms Dinenage hinted any resolution was decades away, stating: “The negotiating workforce did negotiate an possibility to occur back again and critique this in the many years ahead – so the light-weight at the finish of the tunnel is not entirely switched off.”

The stalemate throws the final decision on to member states, with some hope that EU capitals will – as France presently has – waive the operate permit requirement unilaterally.