Ministers rule out rethink to rescue visa-totally free tours by musicians, insisting ‘control of borders’ have to appear initial

Ministers have turned down phone calls for a rethink to rescue visa-absolutely free tours by musicians of the EU – insisting “taking back again control” of borders should come first.

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

The tradition minister admitted – as The Independent uncovered – that the EU’s proposal was thrown out for the reason that of a anxiety it clashed with ending cost-free movement of men and women after Brexit.

She claimed it would have enabled “visa-totally free brief stays for all EU citizens” – even although admitting it would have coated only a “very tiny variety of paid activities”.

“That is just only not appropriate with our manifesto dedication to taking again regulate of our borders,” she advised MPs.

Under tension, Ms Dinenage did agree to look at publishing all correspondence to reveal particularly what transpired in the unsuccessful negotiations.

But she made apparent the government’s aim now was to operate with specific EU members states – “to discover techniques to make lifetime easier” for musicians – rather than reopen talks in Brussels.

That would only happen if the EU agreed to the United kingdom proposal below so-called ‘mode 4’ exemptions, which the EU argues is for specialists, supplying contracted services, not performers.

Its considerably more ambitious proposal would have taken off the risk of get the job done visas – for 90 times, not just 30 – for a carved-out record of “paid activities”, including new music excursions.

Irrespective of Brexit, EU citizens can occur to the Uk as holidaymakers for up to six months anyway, the typical time period for foreign readers exempt from visas.

Nonetheless, Ms Dinenage explained to the Commons the EU give would have opened the door to “permanent visa-free of charge quick stays for all EU citizens” – breaching the Tory promise to voters.

She also claimed the EU’s proposals would not have “covered assist staff or technicians”, even though it is believed the United kingdom refused to even open up talks on that.

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

“Touring Europe signifies anything to our artists and musicians. The thrill of that 1st tour, crammed into the Transit van with all your equipment, four to a room in a low cost resort in Paris, Rotterdam or Hamburg. Using what’s still left of the payment for a put up-gig beer,” he explained.

“The desire that when you arrive back it will be a lavish tour bus, remaining in five-star motels.

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

But Ms Dinenage hinted any resolution was a long time absent, saying: “The negotiating workforce did negotiate an prospect to come back and review this in the many years forward – so the mild 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 perform permit need unilaterally.