The Frome MP David Warburton writes:

It was the French composer Claude Debussy who said, with some prescience, 'Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.' And certainly, the current rules around choral music are unlikely to produce much Art.

My postbag (or inbox) is an interesting barometer of opinion across a colossal range of subjects. Some predictably feature strongly from day to say, but then occasionally an issue is raised which seems pretty niche but elicits a storm of protest. An apparently disproportionate avalanche of correspondence. And this is one of them.

The obscure and bizarre regulations that are currently prohibiting amateur choirs from practising in person, indoors, in groups any larger than six choristers are causing a great deal of distress, and particularly in Frome. After months of being denied the chance to sing together these regulations are, in effect, preventing most choirs from practicing or performing at all.

As a music graduate myself, formerly a rather unsuccessful composer and music teacher, but now Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Music and having been a Trustee for organisations from the National Youth Orchestra to Music for Youth UK, I know very well how much joy singing together brings to all - and also how beneficial singing is for mental health and wellbeing. I'm happy to say, categorically, that I utterly oppose these restrictions and I am calling on the Government to lift them immediately.

Simply, the current restrictions lack any logic or justification. Gyms, where people exercising produce high levels of aerosols, have been identified as being a particular risk for spreading Coronavirus, yet indoor gym classes have been permitted to reopen with no such limits on indoor class sizes or equipment users.

Pubs cannot offer the levels of ventilation or space for social distancing that most choral venues provide and represent a much greater risk. And, without wanting to raise eyebrows, it's true to say that a vast majority of amateur choristers are in the age bracket that will have received at least one, if not both, doses of a vaccine.

These are just three examples in an endless list as to why the restrictions in place on choirs are nonsensical. I have been in touch with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden MP, about this issue and I am writing to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary of State with a demand to review these restrictions as a matter of urgency.

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The Arts, including of course music, have suffered disproportionately throughout this pandemic, and I have worked throughout the pandemic to support artists and musicians. Certainly, the Government's packages of financial support have helped to protect the livelihoods of many millions of people throughout the UK, many artists and musicians have found themselves excluded from financial support. I've lobbied the Government extensively to ensure that those who have found themselves excluded, through no fault of their own, receive the support they both need and deserve.

If you feel so inclined, do read my speech in Parliament in support of those who have been excluded here: the Hansard entry

I've also fought for additional financial support for cultural and artistic venues and have continually highlighted to Government the immense value of the cultural sector to local economies throughout the UK - and of the need to ensure that the sector is fully supported. I've spoken repeatedly in Parliament on this issue and you might be interested to read one of my speeches HERE: the Hansard entry

The current restrictions placed upon choirs in England make no logical, scientific or justifiable sense, and I'll be doing all I can to ensure that they are lifted as soon as possible.

I'll be publishing my letter to the Prime Minister, along with further contributions that I make in Parliament on the issue, on my website, and I will keep battling.

Debussy was right, of course. Art leads by example. And a good example for the countless amateur choirs in Somerset would be to bring the rules into line with common sense.