Policy Download – September 2025

Government Reshuffle signals possible reset in AI policy

Following the recent cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, there have been significant changes at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Liz Kendall has been appointed as the new Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, taking over from Peter Kyle, who has moved to lead the Department for Business and Trade. This marks a notable shift in leadership, as Kendall brings a background rooted in social policy and public service reform, rather than science or technology.

The reshuffle has also brought a complete overhaul of the DSIT ministerial team leading on AI. Former AI minister Feryal Clark and former Creative Industries Minister Chris Bryant have both left the department. They previously held key responsibilities across AI policy and data regulation. In their place, newly appointed ministers include Ian Murray, formerly Secretary of State for Scotland, and Kanishka Narayan, a new MP from the 2024 intake.

For our members, this marks a potential shift in the Government’s approach to AI policy. Ministers had already signalled their intention to abandon their former preferred AI and copyright policy option, and this new ministerial team seems further proof of the Government’s willingness to take a fresh look at AI and Copyright policy. The MPA has written to the new Ministers and will continue to engage with DSIT to ensure that the voice of our sector remains heard as the new ministerial team takes shape.

MPA take part in the Government roundtable on AI

The MPA were invited to participate in the Government’s AI expert working group to inform the development of policy on copyright and AI. The meeting was chaired by the new DSIT Secretary, Liz Kendall, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.  The discussion was focused on the Government’s intended principles for AI and Copyright policy.

• Rightsholders should be protected against unlawful use.
• Rightsholders should be fairly rewarded for their economic value.
• AI developers can access high-quality content.

Ministers and officials were happy to receive feedback on these principles as well as new approaches for regulating AI. The Government will follow up on this work by establishing two further industry working groups to consider AI and copyright issues. One working group will explore the issue of transparency in relation to AI training, while the other will explore potential technical solutions that enable rights holders to control when their works are used by AI developers. Alongside this, there are upcoming roundtables involving interested Parliamentarians, a commitment to update Parliament on the progress of this work by December, as well as the reports committed to during the Data Bill process to be delivered in the early new year. There are plans for an AI and Copyright Bill in 2026.

The MPA join the call to demand the Prime Minister recognise the human rights of rightsholders and protect copyright

As the Prime Minister prepares to meet President Trump during the US state visit, the MPA has joined over 70 of the UK’s leading creators and creative organisations in issuing a powerful open letter demanding the Government explain its failure to protect the rights of UK copyright holders by upholding international human rights standards.

The letter, signed by creative organisations, calls on the Prime Minister to justify the Government’s “active ignoring” of UK copyright holders’ rights. Also adding their voices are cultural icons including Robbie Williams, Moira Buffini, Sir Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox, Sir Paul McCartney, Sting, Kate Bush, Elton John, Neil Tennant and Becky Hill.

The letter comes after the MPA submitted evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) as part of its new inquiry into how human rights can be protected in the age of AI. We aim to help ensure that the rights of rightsholders are respected and safeguarded as AI continues to develop.

You can read coverage of the letter in the Guardian.

The MPA promote the publishing industry at the Labour Party Conference

The Labour Annual Conference kicked off in Liverpool on 28 September 2025, bringing together party members, delegates, unions, civil society groups, business interests, and the media, all against a backdrop of delivering Labour’s agenda in government.

Chief Policy Officer, Ornella Akanga, was invited to participate in the UK Music panel event, Push the Button: Why Backing British Music Will Kick Start Growth. The panel event focused on the current state of the UK Music industry, opportunities and challenges. She was joined on the panel by the new Creative Industries Minister, Ian Murray; Polly Billington MP; General Secretary of the Musicians Union, Naomi Pohl and CEO of UK Music, Tom Kiehl.