Dave’s luvvie army
THE luvvies came out in force yesterday to back the case for remaining in Europe.
Actors, comedians, designers, writers and other figures from across the creative world claimed that Brexit could damage the ‘vibrancy of Britain’s cultural sector’.
Even David Cameron tried to get into the spirit of the day with a visit to the Abbey Road studios in North London – and a rather awkward attempt to remind us of the classic Beatles album cover from 1969.
The Prime Minister and Labour peer Baroness Jowell made a poor substitute for the Fab Four yesterday as they crossed Abbey Road to make the ‘cultural case’ for Britain staying in the EU.
At the studios Mr Cameron and former Labour culture secretary Dame Tessa met some of the stars campaigning for Remain.
The letter from the 282 ‘luvvies’ said that staying in the EU was vital to Britain’s £84.1billion creative industry. They said: ‘From the Bard to Bowie, British creativity inspires and influences the rest of the world.
‘We believe that being part of the EU bolsters Britain’s leading role on the world stage. Let’s not become an outsider shouting from the wings.’
The signatories to the letter included actors Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Dominic West, Helena Bonham Carter, Kristin Scott-Thomas, Brian Blessed, Sir Derek Jacobi, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Sir Patrick Stewart.
Also backing the move are comedians Steve Coogan, Eddie Izzard and Jo Brand, fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, musicians Paloma Faith and Jarvis Cocker.
Other stars behind the call were film director Danny Boyle, artists Sir Anish Kapoor and Sam Taylor-Wood, authors Dame Hilary Mantel and John Le Carre, and poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy. The celebrities said: ‘From the smallest gallery to the biggest blockbuster, many of us have worked on projects that would never have happened without vital EU funding or by collaborating across borders.
‘Britain is not just stronger in the EU, it is more imaginative and creative. Our global creative success would be severely weakened by walking away.‘
And what would “Out” really mean? Leaving the EU would be a leap into the unknown for millions of people in the UK who work in the creative industries, and for the millions more at home and abroad who benefit from the vibrancy of Britain’s cultural sector.’ But Leave campaigners pointed out that many of the letter’s signatories benefited from generous EU subsidies.
Justice Secretary and Leave campaigner Michael Gove said: ‘I don’t think people should be swayed by celebrities, I think they should listen to the arguments.’
Tory MP Stewart Jackson added: ‘The UK electorate hates to be patronised by self-interested sneering Lefty luvvies.’
Ukip leader Nigel Farage said he was not surprised the celebrities were backing staying in the EU. ‘They’re rich luvvies living in £5million houses in Notting Hill – of course they want to stay in the EU,’ he said.
Tory peer and House of Cards creator Lord Dobbs also dismissed the idea that culture was boosted by being in the ‘failing’ EU.
He said: ‘ Our creative industries are booming because of the talent that is in Britain’s DNA. We are world leaders in so many creative areas.
‘From theatre to literature, video games, feature films, fashion, music and so much else, British artists lead the way and are celebrated around the globe.
‘ It’s a success that has been created by the dedication, hard work and extraordinary creative abilities of our artists, it’s not because of the EU.’
The Labour for Leave campaign team said on Twitter: ‘Luvvies for unelected empires, huzzah! They probably know half the Tory cabinet from school.’
In fact Dominic West, who made his name starring in The Wire and attended Eton with Mr Cameron, was at Abbey Road for the event with the Prime Minister. They were joined at the studios by Sir Anish and Ed Vaizey, the Culture Minister, to discuss the impact of Brexit.
Sir Anish said: ‘Voting to stay in Europe is a vote for a kind of idealism and that somehow has been eclipsed by various isolationist arguments.
‘Isolationism in the end has to lead to death. This does something else.’