Stephen Mangan: Government must step up and support the arts

Stephen Mangan has called on the Labour government to "step up and support" the industry, labelling it "frustrating" that a monetary boost for the arts is not apparently forthcoming.

The comedian and actor, whose performances have spanned Broadway and the West End, told The Stage that he believed Keir Starmer’s Labour administration did recognise the value of the arts, "unlike the previous government".

But he continued: "The question is whether they’re going to put their money where their mouth is and provide any more money. And at the moment, they’re saying there isn’t any money, so that’s frustrating."

"I do think their heart is in the right place but one’s heart being in the right place isn’t enough," Mangan said. "So I think we’re all looking for them to step up and support an industry that is so valuable to this country, not just in terms of the soft power it gives us and the difference it makes to people’s lives, but also as an economic force."
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