What we'll push for
Ten themes the future Comedy APPG will take forward, drawn from across the comedy industry.
-
Official recognition as a standalone artform
-
Visibility and representation in national policy
-
Tax, finance and economic resilience
-
Grassroots venues, rates and reinvestment
-
Fair funding and the evidence base
-
Creative health and NHS integration
-
Pay, income security and workforce rights
-
Safety, safeguarding and professional standards
-
Talent pipeline, skills and public service media
-
AI, technology disruption and international growth
Waiting on the Government right now
Actions taken by CRAFT and the comedy sector ahead of the Comedy APPG's launch.
- 3 March 2026 — letter to HM Treasury on business rates relief. Following the Treasury written answer that left comedy venues' eligibility to individual local authorities.
- 9 March 2026 — two questions tabled at the first ministerial roundtable. Whether the Government will commission a formal impact assessment of comedy's economic, cultural, social and creative-health value; and whether it will formally recognise comedy within the structures that shape policy, and on what timeframe.
- 15 June 2026 — direct request to Rachel Reeves. Asking the Chancellor to add live comedy venues to the relief, with centralised Treasury guidance in place of local authority discretion and parity of esteem with live music.
- July 2026 — Theatre Tax Relief eligibility. DCMS officials are assessing standard comedy productions against the criteria.
- 23 July 2026 — letter to the Prime Minister. CRAFT wrote to the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP requesting an urgent meeting, the inclusion of live comedy venues in the announced 20% business rates cut for pubs, clubs and live music venues, and consideration of the full comedy tax brief: cultural VAT on live admissions, business rates parity, Creators' Averaging Relief for performers, Theatre Tax Relief reform, Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit reform for scripted comedy at every budget, a temporary income tax holiday on the first £30,000 of comedy income, a Creative Health Tax Relief, and a format-neutral audio and content relief. Statements in support came from Tom Walker, Matt Forde, the UK Comedy Advisory Board and three parliamentarians.
- September 2026 — Back British Comedy letter to the Prime Minister. CRAFT's campaign letter to the Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP and the Government, asking for comedy to be included in the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026 on three fronts: recognition of comedy as an artform, classification in tax for reliefs and credits, and fair funding alongside music and theatre. Read and sign the letter.