Ed Sheeran spearheading calls for Government to stop "decades of dismantling music education"

Suffolk born pop star and arguably one of the most influential musicians of the past two decades, Ed Sheeran has taken on a new project.

But this one, won't be a new album, but rather calling on the government to better fund music education and repair "decades of dismantling music" done by successive government cuts.

The songwriter, has written to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Government officials, pushing for immediate, long-term funding for UK music education.

Many musicians have penned their signatures to Ed's letter, including the likes of Coldplay, Annie Lennox, Harry Styles, Sir Elton John, Stormzy as well as other outside of music production like Love Actually director Richard Curtis.

The letter sent to the Prime Minister calls for an £250 million UK music education package this spring to repair "decades of dismantling music"

Music in and out of school should be for all, not a few

The letter says: "We are writing collectively as artists, civil society and industry, appealing to your personal belief in music and the promise of opportunity for all under Labour.

The letter - which copied in the department heads of Culture, Education, Foreign Office, Health & Social Care and Business and Trade - also pushed for music to be funded like sport education. Meaning the training of 1,000 music teachers, providing money for grassroots projects, music apprenticeships and diversifying the curriculum.

The Letter goes on to say that learning an instrument is now a luxury not every child can afford. and that music and getting up on stage - whether in school or a community club - is now a luxury not every child can afford and that "Music in and out of school should be for all, not a few,"

A report this March from the Centre for Young Lives think tank and the Child of the North initiative called on the Government to expand arts and music education - including offering free music or singing lessons for three years for every primary school child who wishes to learn.

The report also called for a £150 million "arts premium fund" to develop the existing primary school workforce and train new teachers to provide arts learning.

In January, Sheeran launched the Ed Sheeran Foundation - an initiative aimed at providing inclusive, high-quality music education.

Born in Yorkshire and raised in Suffolk, Sheeran has had 14 UK number one singles and eight UK number one albums, after beginning his career in 2004.

He has become known in recent years for his charity work and donating to his former school Thomas Mills High School and Sixth Form in Framlingham.

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