Craig Fletcher, games investor and the founder of Insomnia Gaming Festival, is running for Parliament.
The Libreral Democrats’ Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Romsey & Southampton North has launched a plan to support the UK games and esports industries if he was elected to Parliament.
Craig wants to be a Government Minister with responsibility for growing esports and bringing major events to the UK, create some clarity around visas for esports and educate politicians on the games and esports sectors.
He also wants to expand the UK Games Fund beyond £1 million a year, improve the UK’s fibre broadband infrastructure, defend video game tax relief and get creative skills back into the curriculum.
As a Lib Deb, Craig is also pushing to stop Brexit and keep the UK in the European Union. You can see his plan in full at the bottom of this article and on Craig Fletcher’s website.
Craig said: “It’s time that video games and esports had some proper representation and support in Westminster. That’s why I’m announcing my plan to support the UK games and esports industries.”
“I know what a positive impact games and esports have on our economy, our culture and our society. The sectors deserve a real champion in Parliament, and I’m ready to do just that.”
Craig Fletcher
Craig also welcomed Sir Vince Cable to the launch of Romsey & Southampton North’s election campaign this week.
Before becoming a candidate, Craig’s career has been in the video games and esports industry.
He set up Multiplay while he was still at university, growing it to a business that provided 100 local jobs. Multiplay was acquired by GAME Digital PLC in 2016.
Since then, Craig has been an active backer of games, esports and technology businesses across the UK and the EU. These businesses have included ChilliConnect (acquired by Unity), Gameye and Toadman Studios.
Craig Fletcher’s plan in full
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
