Report - Osbourne backs UK games industry at private meeting

Chancellor George Osbourne has given his backing towards the UK games industry at a private meeting involving some of the biggest entertainment and media execs in the UK, GI is reporting.

One of those who attended the meeting, Eidos life-president Ian Livingstone, told the site that the meet was "an acknowledgment".

"The fact that we had representation at the meeting is an acknowledgment in itself that the videogames industry is being taken seriously and that it is important socially, culturally and economically to the UK," said Livingstone, who recently authored the Livingston-Hope Skills Review, a paper sponsored by the government.

"There was certainly a great sense of his wanting to work with, and assist, the digital and creative industries to ensure they become a cornerstone of the UK economy, acknowledged and viewed as a valuable sector like the financial and pharmaceutical sectors."

Some of the topics discussed at the meeting included were broadband, tax, distribution, finance, skills and copyright.

Osbourne controversially revoked a previous plan from Labour to introduce tax breaks in the games industry in last year's emergency budget.