Hove MP to tackle ticket touting

By Jenni Davidson

The Conservative MP for Hove Mike Weatherley is to tackle the new culture secretary on the issue of ticket touting.

Tickets for sell-out events, such as major football matches and concerts are often resold by touts for many times their face value, sometimes costing thousands of pounds.

The new culture secretary, Sajid Javid, who took the role on Wednesday after the resignation of Maria Miller, has previously spoken out in support of touts, calling them “classic entrepreneurs”.

Mr Javid said that they should not be regulated because they were filling a gap in the market and providing a service to those who did not get tickets the first time round.

Speaking to The Independent newspaper, Mr Weatherley said: “I think he [Sajid Javid] is wrong on this and it is my job to re-educate him.

“If money is going to people who are speculators it is not in the best interests of the music industry.”

Others who have spoken out against Mr Javid’s views include representatives of Equity, the Royal Opera House, Arts Council England and The Football Supporters’ Federation.

Mr Weatherley is the co-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ticket Abuse.

He is a keen supporter of the music industry and founded the annual Rock the House music competition.

The competition aims to promote live music and raise awareness of intellectual property rights.

The winning musicians get to perform their music at the House of Commons in front of MPs and industry experts.