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Chamber and committees

Condemning Decision to Disband BBC Singers

  • Submitted by: Siobhian Brown, Ayr, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
  • Motion type: Standard Motion
  • Motion reference: S6M-08297

That the Parliament expresses concern over the BBC’s reported decision to disband the BBC Singers; understands that the BBC Singers have been performing since 1924 and have played a crucial role in bringing a range of choral music to people across the country; further understands that the group is internationally renowned as the UK’s only full-time professional chamber choir and is one year away from celebrating its centenary; is alarmed at the BBC’s move to save money by taking this decision, which it understands has been criticised by many across the music industry; considers that, should this move go ahead, it will result in the loss of 24 jobs; understands that members will be unable to continue to perform under the group’s name, which is internationally recognised and held in high prestige; considers that the music industry is still trying to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and that this move will only add to the struggles; notes with encouragement a public petition that has received over 135,000 signatures, as of 20 March 2023, calling on the BBC to reverse this decision, and congratulates the more than 700 composers who reportedly wrote to the BBC Director General, Tim Davies, urging the BBC to reconsider its position.


Supported by: Karen Adam, Alasdair Allan, Alexander Burnett, Stephanie Callaghan, Sharon Dowey, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Annabelle Ewing, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Ruth Maguire, Audrey Nicoll, Emma Roddick, Mark Ruskell, Paul Sweeney, Mercedes Villalba, Tess White, Beatrice Wishart