Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, has called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to appoint a dedicated Minister for the Night-Time Economy, days after the PM created the UK's first cabinet-level AI minister.
Parker argues the night-time economy deserves equal recognition, supporting around 324,000 jobs across the West Midlands – nearly a quarter of the region's workforce.
Roughly 100,000 of these jobs sit within nightlife itself, spanning pubs, restaurants, grassroots music venues, theatres and cinemas.
The Mayor wants the new role based within the expanded Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, led by Jonathan Reynolds.
The call follows the West Midlands Night-Time Economy Commission, launched last autumn, which published 25 recommendations in May, including a national champion to coordinate policy on tax, licensing and transport, alongside later public transport and stronger support for grassroots venues.
What the Mayor said
Richard Parker said: ‘Andy Burnham understands the night-time economy. He championed it in Greater Manchester with a Night-Time Economy Commissioner, so he knows what it means to a place and the people who live there.’
He added: ‘Yesterday he gave AI a minister. I'm asking him to do the same for the night-time economy.’
