Stephen Fry and Miriam Margolyes join calls for Burnham to fund comedy in Budget

Sir Stephen Fry, Miriam Margolyes and Bill Bailey are among comedians calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to prioritise comedy in the upcoming Budget.

Campaigners have called for tax reform, funding and recognition for the comedy sector, ahead of Chancellor John Healey’s financial statement later this month.

Joe Lycett, Jason Manford and Alex Horne are also signatories of a letter organised by campaign group Comedy Representation and Artform Trust (Craft).

MPs including Labour former minister Liz Kendall and the chairwoman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, have also written to the Government to back Craft’s campaign.

In a letter to Mr Burnham and Mr Healey on Thursday, they said: “Prime Minister, you have said you would like a little more comedy in politics, which creates

connection.

“We would settle for a little of it in the Budget. Everything is a no until it is a yes; we would be glad to bring the industry to No 10 to make it a yes.”

A meeting is being held at Downing Street on Monday at which campaigners hope to make their case to Mr Burnham’s team in No 10.

Craft chairwoman Lu Jackson said her message to the Prime Minister is: “Britain can’t afford not to back comedy.”

Craft has argued that comedy “contributes far beyond the laughs”, with benefits to the economy and people’s health.

Conservative former minister Dame Caroline said: “This is not a political ask, it is an administrative correction with an economic return.”

Mr Healey will deliver his Budget in the House of Commons on October 28.

Published: 12/10/2026 by Radio NewsHub