Transparency for Touts Rejected

The Government has rejected amendments to the Consumer Rights Bill that would have created more transparency around secondary ticketing sellers.

In the same week that it was announced the Creative Industries contribute £8.8m per hour to the UK economy, the Government gave a classic free market shrug to the issue facing promoters of music and other live events, stating that the measures would “overburden fans with red tape”.

A debate took place in Parliament on Monday (11th January) to thrash out whether or not to pass legislation that would give consumers information on who they’re buying from, the face value of the ticket, the seat number and whether the ticket is being sold in contravention of its terms and conditions- as all secondary sales are.

Over 80 key figures from the live industry signed an open letter published in The Independent imploring the Government to pass the legislation. Signatories included concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith and the managers of acts such as Arctic Monkeys and One Direction alongside various music trade associations and their members.

Proposed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Ticket Abuse, the measures were voted on in the House of Lords in November but now won’t come into effect after the Government rejected the amendment by 289 votes to 204.

Lest we forget, one of the first things that Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said upon appointment was that ticket touts were “classic entrepreneurs” who should be allowed to operate without impunity.