Chancellor Rishi Sunak suggests struggling musicians should retrain and find new jobs

Update: ITV News has updated its original article clarifying Rishi Sunak's comments. The piece now states that the Chancellor was talking about employment generally and not about the music or arts sector specifically.

The Chancellor tweeted this afternoon (6 October), "An earlier ITV News tweet falsely suggested I thought people in arts should retrain and find other jobs. I'm grateful they have now deleted that tweet. I care deeply about the arts which is why our £1.57bn culture package is one of the most generous in the world."

An earlier @itvnewspolitics tweet falsely suggested I thought people in arts should retrain and find other jobs.

I'm grateful they have now deleted that tweet. I care deeply about the arts which is why our £1.57bn culture package is one of the most generous in the world. https://t.co/raEXxXUMqx

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 6, 2020

Rishi Sunak has shared some bleak comments about workers in the arts industry and their futures following the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

When asked by ITV News if struggling creatives should look for new jobs, the Chancellor responded, "I can't pretend that everyone can do exactly the same job that they were doing at the beginning of this crisis."

He added, "That's why we've put a lot of resource into trying to create new opportunities."

Sunak reiterated that the government is "trying to do everything we can to protect as many jobs as possible", but also admitted that unemployment is "likely to increase".

When prompted if he was suggesting that musicians and actors should be searching for new jobs, the Chancellor said that employment is still available in the creative industries, but added, "as in all walks of life everyone's having to adapt."

He went on to suggest that creative industries such as theatre are "adapting" and "putting on different types of performances", and that it is possible for these industries to host online events that are engaging.

Before the end of the clip, Sunak added, "Can things happen in exactly the way they did? No. But everyone is having to find ways to adapt and adjust to the new reality."