Stuart Andrew is Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport he is MP for Daventry.
At the very soul of our nation lies a rich cultural fabric: Culture, media and sport are not side notes to Britain’s story, they are the very narrative itself. And it’s time we place them at the forefront of our political renewal.
That’s why, as part of Kemi Badenoch’s Policy Renewal Programme, our team is keen to hear the views of the membership. This is not a top-down exercise. It’s a bottom-up renewal, drawing on the grassroots wisdom of the sectors.
We recognise that building public trust is crucial. The whole Programme will help us achieve this by engaging with parliamentary colleagues, party members, the public, and experts in sectors to create a new Conservative prospectus for the 2030s — one grounded in real-world experience, shared values, and a vision that speaks to the heart of the country.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has an expansive brief, perhaps more so than any other department.
It touches every person’s life in some way, at some point. Whether it be youth services, sport, the theatre, music, creatives, heritage, gambling, tourism, charities or loneliness, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is the quiet backbone behind much of what brings meaning, joy and cohesion to our society.
And yet, these sectors are being hit hard, not just by the economic pressures through Labour’s reckless and irresponsible Jobs Tax, but by a government that lacks a coherent vision and too often treats our cultural sectors as an afterthought. This must change.
At our best, we Conservatives have always understood the power of culture. We believe in the individual’s ability to create, inspire and flourish. We believe in heritage and tradition, but also in innovation and aspiration. And we believe that civil society, not just the state has a key role in nurturing the social capital that holds communities together.
That means being champions of the arts. It means recognising the value of sport in transforming young lives, their futures and strengthening our social fabric.
It means putting youth services back at the heart of society. It means supporting charities as vital partners in tackling some of the toughest challenges our most vulnerable face, from homelessness to loneliness.
As a former fundraiser in the charity sector, I understand the immense pressure these organisations are under. These sectors deserve to be at the forefront when making decisions as they provide so much to so many.
We must also uphold freedom of speech and expression, and we should be the party that defends artistic courage, and open debate.
Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.
We must do more to connect young creatives to the resources they need to thrive.
Culture binds us together. From festivals to football, shared history to local landmarks, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport can be a powerful force for building national pride and community identity. This means protecting heritage buildings, boosting domestic tourism, and ensuring that public funding supports not only the major institutions in capital cities, but the local treasures that matter deeply to towns and villages across the UK.
We don’t have all the answers, and we’re not pretending to. That’s why we’re inviting members and stakeholders across the country to help shape our policy direction through the Policy Renewal Programme. We’re already engaging with theatres, charities, music venues, museum directors, youth workers, and sports coaches — and one message comes through clearly:
People want leadership that listens, and policy that empowers.
At the same time, we are unafraid to ask the tough but essential questions:
- Has the decline in volunteering over the past decade been driven mainly by changing societal priorities and economic pressures — or does it signal a deeper shift in how people engage with their communities?
- Why has public trust in the BBC fallen so sharply? Does it reflect wider disillusionment with public institutions, or internal challenges within the broadcaster?
- As more people consume news via social media, how do we confront the growing threat of misinformation and the deliberate spread of misleading content?
- And what lessons can we learn from recent legal challenges to ministerial decisions on arts funding, particularly in ensuring fairness, transparency, and regional balance?
These are not abstract policy questions, they go to the heart of how we rebuild trust, strengthen civil society, and renew national confidence.
Over time, we will put forward detailed proposals for a refreshed policy prospectus. One that values every choir rehearsal, football match, museum visit, film premiere, and community play.
We owe it to the next generation not to let this potential go to waste.
Through this Policy Renewal, and with the voices of our members and the sectors themselves, we can build a vision that truly reflects the depth, diversity, and dynamism of British culture.
Let your voice shape our future.
To get involved, contact policy.conservatives.com.
