I’m John Slinger, MP for Rugby. I’m a strong supporter of the creative arts. 

Please join my campaign to encourage UK broadcasters to feature creative arts bulletins in their news output.

Broadcast news gives consistent, prominent coverage to sport - often through dedicated hourly sports bulletins.

By contrast, the creative arts receive irregular and fragmented coverage, despite being:

• Massive contributor to our economy (£124 billion per year) 
• Central to education and skills development
• Proven to improve health and wellbeing
• Vital to community cohesion

Cultural institutions - theatres, cinemas, orchestras, galleries and local venues - host newsworthy events every day. Yet there is no consistent, recognisable broadcast space where audiences can receive up-to-date creative arts news.

Regular sports bulletins in broadcast news normalises sports as an important part of the life of our community for audiences. There is no objective reason why the same should not be done for the creative arts. 

Creative arts activities are just as popular among people of all ages, and are just as impactful for individuals, communities and the economy as are sports. 

In order to help rectify this, broadcasters should include creative arts bulletins in their news programmes. 

Creative arts bulletins featuring in all news broadcasts will have the following positive effects:  

• Elevate and normalise the creative arts in the national consciousness;
• Promote creative arts activities at the national and local level thereby boosting public engagement with them and their profitability;
• Stimulate interest in creative arts subjects within schools at a time when they are in decline;
• Encourage participation in creative arts activities of all genres at all levels, by people of all ages, from grassroots, through to professional level;
• Stimulate interest in local creative arts organisations and endeavours, thereby boosting community cohesion and pride; and
• Boost town centre regeneration and the local economy. 

Sport benefits from routine prominence. Culture does not.

My Bill before the House of Commons 

I am introducing a ‘Ten Minute Rule Bill’ in the House of Commons on this topic on Wednesday 15 April. These are draft laws introduced by backbench MPs. They don’t become law but they shine a light, or bang the drum (!), for an issue and ensure that the government and others take note. 

Listen to my interview with Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live last year https://x.com/JohnSlinger/status/1948433020152685011?s=20

My first Prime Minister’s Questions in November 2024 was about the creative arts https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCCMSM5Mgdt/?igsh=MTBxb2N6ejU2aDZtag==

My contribution to a debate about music education is here https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2025-07-03/debates/453D1DF2-6E16-4049-8767-17A00A9ABFCA/details#contribution-99988053-63EC-4CA1-8338-A29F5518C4BD