March 16, 2009 17:46

Labour to end its 'New Deal For Musicians' scheme

The initiative had helped The Zutons, James Morrison and Jem

Photo Gallery: The Zutons

The Labour Party has announced it is scrapping its New Deal For Musicians, which was launched in 1999 with the support of Paul McCartney.

The scheme helped unemployed musicians to make inroads into the music industry by securing instruments and studio time. Those who signed up to the deal and went on to find success include The Zutons, Jem and James Morrison.

Speaking to The Independent, Morrison explained how the scheme helped him to get signed.

"Going on the scheme helped me out a lot," he said. "I had no money; I was signing on. I got that bit extra to help me through. I got a new guitar. Without the help from the New Deal, I would have struggled to do what I was doing."

The scheme will come to an end in October, to be replaced by the Flexible New Deal.

However, a spokesman for the Department For Work And Pensions denied that the new scheme would ignore aspiring musicians, telling the newspaper: "If someone has a specific talent in music, their help and support would be geared to music. They will still get all the help they require."