Conservatives back UK games industry

A member of the Conservative Party has criticised the government's lack of support of the UK games industry.

Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey MP outlined a series of plans for the industry on behalf of the party.

He said that the Film Council would be extended to include video games and also pledged to attract investment.

"NESTA's research suggests that the UK video games sector could shrink by 16.5% over five years, resulting in the loss of more than £180 million in external investment and nearly 1,700 jobs," GamesIndustry.biz quotes him as telling the London Game Conference.

"As in so many other areas, Labour ministers simply do not seem to care that we are falling behind our competitors in a critically important economic growth area."

While he could not promise tax breaks as proposed by TIGA, he said that the party will attempt to attract inward investment as a high technology business.

"I would love nothing more than to work with you to facilitate the investment and risk-taking the industry needs," he said.

"We are campaigning at a time when Britain is broke, but this creates an opportunity to shape policies that assist the high-tech entrepreneurs that will drive our economy in the future. The video games sector must play a key part in this."

> Report: Taxing Times for the UK Games Industry