The latest report from the All Party Parliamentary Writers Group (APWG) has detailed COVID-19’s significant impact on the UK’s writers and issued a ten-point plan urging the government to do more to support the sector, which is largely made up of freelancers.
Following sessions with figures from the literary sector and leading writers’ organisations, the group has highlighted how writers in the UK have been impacted by a lack of government support, the closure of physical bookstores and the cancellations of commissions and in-person appearances during the pandemic.
The recommendations in the ten-point plan include the formation of a Creators Council to act as a line of communication between the UK government and the creative sector, including freelancers, in order to aid policy-making and the sector’s recovery.
The report also calls on the government to review gaps in support for freelancers and to undertake reforms of rules governing tax and benefits. Other recommendations include improved access to grants in order to help authors develop and more opportunities to access development support.
Earnings within the writing sector have been declining for years, a trend that has been accelerated by the pandemic, leading to concerns that lower earnings will impact the industry’s diversity.
On top of these lower earnings, during the pandemic, large numbers of freelance writers have struggled to access the government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), which was widely criticised for its numerous exclusions. This meant that many were unable to access funds.
APWG Chair Giles Watling MP said: “With this new inquiry, we can see the need to act to support the creative workforce across the country. Throughout the UK, authors have ensured that we have the books, film, television and dramatic works to help us through the pandemic and to support the next generation. We need to make sure that authors are fairly rewarded and can keep doing the fantastic work they do.”
