Playing Politics: UK Minister Wants Tax Breaks for UK Developers

By Vikki Blake | October 31, 2009

Politicians. There’s not much they won’t say – or, let’s face it, do – to curry favour, particularly when there’s a highly-anticipated-but-yet-to-be-announced election looming. The (UK) Conservative’s Ed Vaizey – now pimping himself as the ‘Shadow Minister for Games’ – has criticised the current government for essentially ignoring the “critically important economic growth area” of gaming.

Speaking at the London Games Conference this week, the shadow culture minister was clearly pitching at a captive audience. Taking opportunity to address the gaming industry’s highest representatives, he stated his vision to support domestic UK development – which included discussion around working in the industry in the current global economic market, oversea competitors and retaining home-grown talent – proclaiming that “NESTA’s research suggests the UK videogames sector could shrink by 16.5 per cent over five years, resulting in the loss of more than £180 million in external investment and nearly 1700 jobs.”

Further debate led to the suggestion that true government commitment could be evidenced by way of a support group such as the UK Film Council, but this was quashed. “There’s no appetite to create new quangos at the moment,” said Vaizey. “But we’re looking at having the UK Film Council handle the video games sector.”

So what does he propose to support this ‘new’ arm of multimedia entertainment? Tax breaks, of course.

“We’re actively considering a tax break [for UK development],” he said. “However, we’re encouraging you to think more widely, and if you want to influence Conservative policy, now’s the time to do it.”

Although he admits that he doesn’t play games himself (quel surprise), Vaizey insists that the UK game industry will form part of his campaign in the lead-up to the general election.

Which leads me to the crunch: should the gaming industry be cosying up to government in order to secure support for domestic developments in the UK – or, indeed, in the US or anywhere else in the world? Or should we keep the game of politics the hell out of the gaming industry? Your thoughts, please.