House of Lords debates the Freelance Champion as part of the government’s Employment Rights Bill
Image courtesy UK Parliament
On Friday 23 July 2025 the House of Lords held a detailed debate on the Employment Rights Bill, with several peers focusing on support for freelancers, both within the creative industries and more widely. A key point of discussion was the role of a Freelance Champion, announced in the UK Government’s Creative Industries Sector Plan in June 2025.
Calls for stronger legal backing
The Earl of Clancarty, a visual artist and member of the House of Lords, highlighted the need for the Freelance Champion to have legal authority and independence.
Other peers raised similar proposal. They noted that many freelancers - especially in the arts, face income insecurity and limited access to rights and benefits. Lord Clancarty cited data indicating that 44% of creative freelancers earn less than the National Living Wage.
Lord Freyberg supported the proposal, emphasizing the need for stronger representation for freelancers, who make up a large proportion of workers in the creative industries, including the vast majority of visual artists. Whilst welcoming the announcement of a Freelance Champion, he stressed that a cross-sectoral commissioner could better reflect the reality of freelance work, which often spans multiple industries.
What is the Government’s proposal?
The Government plans to appoint a Freelance Champion within the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The role will sit on the Creative Industries Council and work to represent creative freelancers, especially in sectors such as music, visual arts, and design.
As announced in the Creative Industries Sector Plan:
The Freelance Champion is part of a broader goal to increase annual creative sector investment from £17 billion to £31 billion by 2035.
Freelancers are described as central to the sector’s success, with government acknowledging their key role in innovation, cultural production, and export growth.
However, the role is non-statutory – meaning it may not have legally defined duties or powers to change laws – and will not cover freelancers in other industries such as media, construction, or tech.
How might this impact visual artists?
Visual artists - most of whom are self-employed, stand to gain increased visibility and support under the Freelance Champion. DACS, along with other organisations supporting creatives across disciplines have called for greater visibility and support, and have welcomes the announcement.
However, peers in the debate expressed concern that a government-appointed, non-independent role may not have enough power to influence policy or enforce rights.
The proposal for a statutory Freelance Commissioner remains under consideration as the Employment Rights Bill progresses through Parliament.
Read more
- What does the Creative Industries Sector Plan mean for visual artists?
- Visual art leaders call for strategic investment through the Framing the Future Report
- Recapping how DACS advocated for visual artists this Summer
