"The future of the industry itself is at stake"

When a politician enthusiastically takes up a cause, it's often hard to shake the suspicion that they're only doing so temporarily and cynically, as a means to boost their popularity, and that they care more about photo opportunities and soundbites than the issue itself.

Thankfully, Jo Stevens, the Labour MP for Cardiff Central, seems to be cut from a different cloth. Not only did she throw herself wholeheartedly into backing the successful Save Womanby Street campaign, but she's also been instrumental in the fight to preserve Guildford Crescent from demolition, raising the subject in the House of Commons and addressing those of us who took part in January's protest march.

Tuesday saw the publication of a report into live music by the DCMS Committee, of which Stevens was a member. In a piece about the report written for PoliticsHome, she naturally references the closure of Gwdihw and acknowledges the "sobering, baffling and depressing" evidence that the committee heard - the sort of evidence that will be only too familiar to regular readers of this blog.

Nevertheless, she chooses not to dwell on the threats and challenges, instead underlining the progress being made in tackling the scourge of secondary ticket sales and highlighting the report's call for proper support and funding for grassroots music, as well as for reduced business rates and tax relief for small community-oriented venues like Gwdihw in which new artists find their feet and hone their craft.

Of course, these recommendations are all fine and well, and it's encouraging to know that some politicians (at least) understand the seriousness of the situation - but if things are to improve, then the Tory government has to genuinely pay attention and act accordingly. I'm afraid I don't hold out much hope of that.