Ministers rule out rethink to rescue visa-free of charge excursions by musicians, insisting ‘control of borders’ should come first

Ministers have turned down calls for a rethink to rescue visa-free of charge tours by musicians of the EU – insisting “taking back again control” of borders will have to arrive initial.

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

The society minister admitted – as The Independent exposed – that the EU’s proposal was thrown out due to the fact of a anxiety it clashed with ending totally free motion of folks immediately after Brexit.

She claimed it would have enabled “visa-absolutely free quick stays for all EU citizens” – even whilst admitting it would have protected only a “very small number of paid out activities”.

“That is just merely not compatible with our manifesto commitment to getting back again manage of our borders,” she informed MPs.

Under force, Ms Dinenage did agree to look at publishing all correspondence to reveal exactly what occurred in the failed negotiations.

But she manufactured apparent the government’s goal now was to do the job with personal EU members states – “to discover means to make lifestyle easier” for musicians – fairly than reopen talks in Brussels.

That would only happen if the EU agreed to the United kingdom proposal underneath so-called ‘mode 4’ exemptions, which the EU argues is for experts, offering contracted providers, not performers.

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Its far a lot more bold proposal would have taken off the danger of perform visas – for 90 days, not just 30 – for a carved-out list of “paid activities”, such as music excursions.

Inspite of Brexit, EU citizens can come to the British isles as travellers for up to 6 months in any case, the typical time period for overseas people exempt from visas.

However, Ms Dinenage told the Commons the EU give would have opened the doorway to “permanent visa-free of charge short stays for all EU citizens” – breaching the Tory guarantee to voters.

She also claimed the EU’s proposals would not have “covered aid team or technicians”, whilst it is thought the United kingdom refused to even open up talks on that.

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

“Touring Europe usually means every little thing to our artists and musicians. The thrill of that first tour, crammed into the Transit van with all your gear, four to a place in a inexpensive hotel in Paris, Rotterdam or Hamburg. Utilizing what is still left of the payment for a put up-gig beer,” he stated.

“The desire that when you occur back it will be a lavish tour bus, remaining in 5-star lodges.

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

But Ms Dinenage hinted any resolution was several years away, saying: “The negotiating group did negotiate an option to appear back again and review this in the several years ahead – so the gentle at the end of the tunnel is not entirely switched off.”

The stalemate throws the determination onto member states, with some hope that EU capitals will – as France previously has – waive the get the job done allow necessity unilaterally.