The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Sajid Javid BBC John Whittingdale

Culture secretary John Whittingdale says government will 'work closely' with media industries on Brexit negotiations

Author

By Rebecca Stewart, Trends Editor

June 30, 2016 | 3 min read

Culture secretary John Whittingdale has said that the government will "work closely" with the cultural, media and sporting sectors to make sure their concerns are taken into account as the UK negotiates Brexit terms.

Whittingdale released a statement on the Brexit yesterday

In a statement published yesterday (29 June), Whittingdale said: "The department for media, culture and sport will work closely with all of our sectors to make sure they have a voice as we now prepare for a negotiation to exit the EU."

He continued: "Our sectors are amongst some of the strongest and fastest growing, contributing 16 per cent of total Gross Value Added to the UK economy."

Echoing the sentiment of fellow Conservative party members, including chancellor George Osborne and business secretary Sajid Javid, Whittingdale said that Britain's economy was "fundamentally strong."

"It is important to re-emphasise that there will be no immediate changes and that there will also be new opportunities for the UK which we will seize," he added, saying that the government would support its sectors in seeking new arrangements in order to maintain "trade relations and encourage them to look for new opportunities across the world."

In the campaign leading up to the referendum Whittingdale was criticised for openly-backing the Vote Leave camp, with Labour's Maria Eagle saying that his support from Britain leaving the EU was distracting from talks on the future of the BBC.

Media commentators expressed concern earlier this week after the Brexit result wiped £2.5bn off ITV's stock market value, with some speculating that the drop could make it a takeover target.

Overall, the marketing and media industries have had mixed reaction to the UK's vote to leave the EU.

Sajid Javid BBC John Whittingdale

More from Sajid Javid

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +