Scrapping BBC licence fee ‘on the table’, says culture secretary

Our hard power has been dwindling over the last century. But what about Britain’s soft power? The culture secretary Lisa Nandy says she’ll “turbocharge” the UK’s creative industries – describing culture as “an essential part of who we are as a country”.

Speaking in Gateshead, she announced a £60 million package of support – most of which will go towards grassroots creative ventures and startups.