MPs reject changes to secondary ticket market

Proposed changes to the law to allow music fans “transparency” when purchasing secondary or second hand tickets has been rejected by MPs in the House of Commons.

An amendment to The Consumer Rights Bill, proposed by the House of Lords, was rejected with a overwhelming majority voting against the changes.

MPs Stella Creasy and Mike Weatherly were amongst the representatives who backed the campaign for change, with the latter wanting to change the legislation to “put fans first”. The amendment aimed to prevent ‘botnets’ from purchasing gig tickets in bulk before selling them online at inflated prices.

Ticketing company Viagogo released the following statement after the decision: “We are pleased that common sense has prevailed and people’s right to resell their own property in a free market has been protected.”

The campaign, which was started and backed heavily by the Independent on Sunday also received support from music industry heads that represent Radiohead, Iron Maiden and Arctic Monkeys. The debate will now be returned to the House of Lords who will decide whether to take the matter back to Parliament.

To read more on the decision, and how you can get involved, check out this post on the issue from ‘no booking fees’ ticketing agency Dice.