ROSSENDALE and Darwen Labour candidate Will Straw has called on the Government to put fans first by dropping its opposition to tackling ticket touting.

Parliament voted this week on proposals to tackle ticket touting as part of the Consumer Rights Bill.

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A cross-party group of Lords and MPs had made proposals on this issue which Labour supported.

But the Government tabled a motion to reject all these measures which was passed by 290 votes to 203.

Will Straw said: “The Culture Secretary is completely out of touch on this – ticket touts aren’t ‘classic entrepreneurs’ but are ripping off fans by buying up tickets and then reselling them at massively inflated prices.

“With special programmes to bulk purchase tickets as soon as they go on sale being used, ordinary fans don’t stand a chance of getting through to book online.

“There’s also evidence touts are using the profits from this to fund serious crime, with this industry making up to £1bn a year.

“I know from talking to sports and music fans in East Lancashire how much they resent not being able to get tickets to see their favourite team or performers, and then having to pay extortionate prices for them on secondary ticketing sites if they still want to go to a gig or a game.”

“MPs across parliament support this measure, as do major sports bodies, cultural institutes and music industry representatives.

“That’s why I hope the Government listens and changes its mind on opposing this. I will certainly be campaigning to put fans first and kick touting into touch.”