> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Hove MP backs legalisation to protect music fans against Government opposition
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/hove-mp-backs-legalisation-to-protect-music-fans-against-government-opposition/
- Published: 2015-01-08T16:43:58.000Z
- Updated: 2015-01-08T16:43:58.000Z
- Description: Mike Weatherley, Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, is co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Secondary Ticketing. Mike is supporting the Lords amendments tabled in the Consumer Rights Bill that would provide greater transparency for those purchasing tickets through resellers and help
- Author: Besi
- Tags: Music, News, Politics, Mike Weatherley MP for Hove & Portslade

## Mike Weatherley, Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade, is co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Secondary Ticketing.

[![Mike Weatherley MP for Hove & Portslade is the former Interlectual Copyright advisor to the Prime Minister](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/web-600-31.jpg)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/gscene-com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/web-600-31.jpg)

Mike Weatherley MP for Hove & Portslade is the former Intellectual Copyright advisor to the Prime Minister

**MIKE IS supporting the Lords amendments** tabled in the Consumer Rights Bill that would provide greater transparency for those purchasing tickets through resellers and help protect the live music industry.

Live music and events are a vital contributors to the economy and the cultural well-being of society.

Mike, former Intellectual Property Adviser to the Prime Minister, will be supporting the fans, performers and promoters that believe that the current ticketing arrangements for major events is not delivering value for money for those involved and that the free market falls down when it comes to secondary ticketing, given the restriction of supply.

The Lords amendments to the Consumer Rights Bill, which Mike supports (and the government has indicated it will not support) will be considered in the House of Commons on Monday January 12, would require resellers to state the name of the seller, employment details (if related to the entertainment industry), any reference numbers, as well as a seat number, if applicable.

**Mike said:** *“The secondary ticketing market is a cash cow for a select few and, by and large, bad for music fans. The procurement of tickets by resellers takes place on an industrial scale as soon as an event opens its box office, denying fans the opportunity to buy tickets at their face value.”*

*“Those arguing against greater transparency are trying to shield from fans the source of the tickets or circumvent individual venues restrictions on reselling tickets. There is a large amount of criminal activity around fake tickets, which is fuelled by extortionate prices, that can leave fans massively disappointed and out of pocket. This has to stop.”*

**An open letter from industry representatives:**

*“As representatives from the live event industry, responsible for putting on shows ranging from international sporting fixtures and world class theatre to intimate gigs, we are committed to ensuring that event-goers have the best experience possible at a fair price. The way that the secondary ticketing market is allowed to operate at present can seriously undermine that effort.*

*“It’s almost 3 years since Channel 4’s Dispatches: The Great Ticket Scandal exposed how secondary platforms court major ticket touts and take allocations directly from promoters to sell on above face value to unsuspecting consumers.*

*“And it’s almost 2 years since Operation Podium, the Police unit set up to tackle Olympics-related crime, produced a report calling for legislation to tackle “unscrupulous practices, a lack of transparency and fraud” within the secondary market.*

*“Tomorrow, the House of Commons has the chance to pass that legislation. Clause 33 of the Consumer Rights Bill would give consumers looking for tickets basic information which the secondary platforms have been so keen to hide: who they’re buying from, the face value of the ticket, the seat number and, importantly, whether that ticket is being sold in contravention of its terms and conditions.*

*“Sadly, the Government tried to block this Clause in the Lords, and want to strip it out of the Bill in the Commons tomorrow.*

*“If the secondary platforms have nothing to fear from transparency, they have nothing to fear from these simple provisions.*

*“It’s high time the Government stopped sticking up for them, and decided to put fans first.*

**Signed by:**

**Adam Brown**, Brownstock

**Ali McLean**, DHP Concerts / No Tomorrow Festival

**Andy Bell**, Festibelly

**Andy Smith**, Kendal Calling

**Angus Baskerville** and **Charlie Myatt**, 13 Artists Agency

**Anthony Addis**, Brontone Management

**Barry Drinkwater**, Global Merchandising Solutions

Bullet For My Valentine

Cancer Bats

**Caroline Maclennan**, Hebridean Celtic Festival

**Chris Tofu**, London Remixed Festival

**Craig Jennings** and **Don Jenkins**, Raw Power Management

**Dave Newton**, WeGotTickets

**Emma Banks** and **Mike Greek**, Creative Artists Agency

**Freddie Fellowes**, The Secret Garden Party

Gallows

**Geoff Meall**, The Agency Group

**Harvey Goldsmith CBE**

**Hugh Phillimore**, Cornbury Festival

**Ian McAndrew**, Wildlife Entertainment

**James Scarlett**, ArcTanGent

**Jane Beese**, Meltdown

**Jeff Craft**, X-Ray Touring

**Jim Winship**, The Event Services Association

**Jo Dipple**, UK Music

**Joe Buirski**, Fire in the Mountain

**Joe Gibbs**, Belladrum Tartan Heart

**John Empson**, Eden Sessions

**John F. Smith**, Musicians Union

**John Jackson**, K2 Agency

**John Rostron**, SWN Festival

**Jon Webster**, Music Managers Forum

**Joshua Sanger**, Barn On The Farm

**Julia Calver**, UK Centre for Events Management

**Julian Bird**, Chief Executive, Society of London Theatre

**Kate Hewett**, Tramlines

**Katherine Goodenough**, Greenbelt Festival

**Lee Denny**, Leefest

**Martin Laws**, Pangaea

Mooseblood

**Nicholas Crow,** Fling Festival

**Nick Chambers**, Beat-Herder Festival

**Nick Mason** (Pink Floyd), **Ed O’Brien** (Radiohead), and **Sandie Shaw,** Co-Chairs, Featured Artists Coalition

**Nick Tanner**, Glastonbudget

**Nick Thomas**, Chairman of HQ Theatres & Hospitality Ltd

**Oliver Jones**, Deer Shed Festival

**Oscar Thornton**, Farr Festival

**Pablo Janczur**, Brecon Jazz

**Paul Bliss**, Blissfields

**Paul Flower**, Profound Media & Management

**Paul Reed**, Association of Independent Festivals

**Peter Davies**, Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru

**Peter Elliott**, Primary Talent International Agency

**Peter Nosworthy**, Nozstock Festival

**Rachel Tackley**, President, UK Theatre Association

**Ralph Broadbent**, Truck

**Ralph Broadbent**, Y-Not Festival

**Reece Miller**, We Are FSTVL

**Richard Griffiths**, Modest Management

**Rob Challice**, Larmer Tree Festival

**Rob Da Bank**, Bestival/Camp Bestival

**Rod Smallwood**, Phantom Music Management

**Roger Tomlinson** and **Andrew Thomas**, The Ticketing Institute

**Roger Woodhall**, Bournemouth 7s

**Sam Eldridge**, Urok Management

**Sean McLoughlin**, Village Green

**Sidharth Sharma**, Shambala

**Simon Maltas**, 2000 Trees

**Simon Watson**, Sidewinder Management

**Sofia Hagberg**, End of the Road Festival

**Stuart Galbraith**, Kilimanjaro Live

Turbowolf

While She Sleeps

**Will Brown**, In the Woods Festival