Sutherland MP gives support to panto dames' protest
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North MP Jamie Stone gave his backing to pantomime dames as they took centre stage in a protest about the lack of Covid-19 support for the arts and entertainment sector.
Mr Stone – who has himself appeared in panto, at amateur level – said the colourful demonstration in Parliament Square was aimed at delivering a message to Chancellor Rishi Sunak that help is desperately needed.
The Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross has been at the forefront of efforts to help the millions excluded from UK government Covid-19 support schemes. He is chairman of the Gaps in Support all-party parliamentary group.
The panto dame rally was organised by Equity, Bectu, #WeMakeEvents and ExcludedUK and sought to raise awareness about the lack of panto this year and the wider damage to the theatre and live events industry.
“I was absolutely delighted to join the panto rally – not least because I have appeared in amateur panto productions in the past, as both a baddie and a dame," Mr Stone said.
"While the demo was one of the most colourful and amusing that I’ve seen in my three years as an MP, the point behind it is serious and worrying. Many workers in the theatre and the wider entertainment business missed out when the government came to giving financial support during the Covid pandemic.
"Including all other sectors of our workforce in the UK, it’s reckoned that over three million people are caught in this terrible trap.
"The panto rally’s message was very clear: Rishi Sunak, please hear our plea, and please extend the helping hand which we so desperately need.”
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