UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl congratulated Sir Keir Starmer on his general Election win and urged the new Prime Minister to use his “resounding mandate for change” to boost jobs, growth and opportunity in the sector. 

According to an official statement, Kiehl called for the new PM to work with the industry to devise a long-term music strategy, and to make it a top priority to help deliver Labour’s key election pledge of securing the highest sustained growth of the G7 group of nations. 

This follows the release of UK Music’s pre-election Manifesto for Music, where it outlined how the new government could deliver growth and opportunities across the UK.

UK Music sends its congratulations to Sir Keir Starmer and his team on their election victory, which gives his new Government a resounding mandate for change.

My reaction to the outcome of the 2024 General Election https://t.co/u5OEtHDxnI

— Tom Kiehl (@Tomkiehl) July 5, 2024

Kiehl said: “The music industry is facing a number of challenges, but also opportunities. A strong relationship between UK Music and the new Government will be essential to navigating what the rest of this decade brings.

 “We have lost 1,000 music teachers from our secondary schools since 2012,” he continued. “That poses a huge risk to the talent pipeline on which our sector relies and deprives thousands of young people of an enjoyable and rewarding career. 

“We will work with the members of the new Government – which has promised to recruit 6,500 new teachers – and strive to reverse that damaging decline. 

“As the collective voice of the music industry, UK Music already has strong links with Sir Keir’s top team. Our plan is to continue to build on those relationships and work across the political spectrum, including the many newly elected MPs, to deliver real change and further growth for our world-leading sector.”