WGGB took its message on protecting writers’ rights to Westminster twice this week, including at the launch of a new Broadcasting, Entertainment and Arts Unions All Party Parliamentary Group on Wednesday (3 December 2025).
The APPG aims to be an active voice for all those working in the sector and to protect the livelihoods of UK creatives.
It is supported by BEAU (Broadcasting, Entertainment and Arts Unions), itself a new group, replacing the former Federation of Entertainment Unions, and made up of WGGB, Equity, the NUJ, Musicians’ Union and Bectu.
Speaking at the reception in the House of Commons, which was attended by MPs, Peers and creative union officials, members and staff, WGGB’s new President Jack Thorne (pictured above, left) spoke about the threat posed by AI, recalling the investment that was made in him as a writer at the early stages of his career. When we’re arguing about copyright and AI, he said, “we’re not saying that those who have copyright just want to make money off the copyright they own. It’s about allowing for the future generations to exist. And I don’t think they will exist if we don’t protect copyright right now.”
The theme of the evening was ‘Access to the arts’ and Thorne also highlighted the importance of investing in under-represented creatives.
He went on to speak about the vital economic contribution the creative industries make to the UK economy and ended by saying “AI might make a fortune for this country … but the future looks bleak unless you find a way to protect us.”
Other speakers at the event included Rupa Huq, Labour MP for Ealing Central and Acton, Equity General Secretary Paul Fleming and NUJ General Secretary Laura Davison. WGGB General Secretary Ellie Peers was in attendance, alongside WGGB Chair Emma Reeves and Treasurer Gail Renard (pictured above, from second left to right).
Earlier in the week (on Tuesday 2 December), WGGB attended the Winter Reception of the All Party Writers Group, hosted by its Chair Chris Evans MP, who opened proceedings reflecting on the importance of literacy, as 2026 has been announced as the National Year of Reading.
Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society Chair Lord Clement-Jones discussed the need for a licensing regime to address the unauthorised use of writers’ works to train AI systems, while Dr Clementine Collett, from the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, spoke about her recent research into the impacts of AI on novelists, which WGGB participated in.
“The recommendations from our research really focus on amplifying the voices of these literary creatives,” said Dr Collett, adding that a focus on licensing was vital, “underpinned by transparency from AI companies and training data that is based on informed consent and fair remunerations for creatives for the use of their work.”
The report, which surveyed 332 authors, found that 60% said their work had been used to train AI large language models without their permission or payment.