Starmer Urged to Honour Ticket Touting Ban Pledge as Resellers Exploit Big Weekend
Keir Starmer has been called upon to fulfil his commitment to ban ticket touting, amid growing concerns that the policy may be omitted from next month's king's speech, potentially costing music fans hundreds of millions of pounds. Music industry groups have expressed dismay as fresh evidence reveals professional ticket traders are targeting BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, scheduled for Sunday 24 May, with significant mark-ups on platforms like Viagogo and StubHub.
Industry Backlash Over Potential Delay
In November, Starmer vowed that the government would "stop fans from being ripped off" by implementing Labour's 2024 election manifesto promise to outlaw the resale of tickets for profit. This pledge has garnered support from globally renowned artists, including Radiohead, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay. However, during a recent parliamentary meeting, Ian Murray, the minister responsible for the policy, suggested that if the measure is not included in the king's speech on 13 May, other legislative avenues such as private members' bills could be pursued. This hint at a possible delay has sparked alarm among music industry representatives, the chair of the culture select committee, and the consumer organisation Which?.
Caroline Dinenage, chair of the culture select committee, warned, "If it is not in the king's speech, it would call into question whether the government is serious about protecting music lovers, and everyone who enjoys live events, from being ripped off." Lisa Webb, a consumer law expert at Which?, added, "The government has promised to put fans first, but if this legislation is not included in the king's speech, the only ones celebrating will be the rip-off secondary ticketing websites and online touts."
Evidence of Widespread Exploitation
According to data compiled by the music industry group FanFair Alliance and shared with the Guardian, ticket touts are capitalising on the Radio 1 Big Weekend in Sunderland, despite efforts by the BBC and Ticketmaster to maintain low prices and prioritise access for local residents. Although a two-ticket limit was imposed, some listings on Viagogo advertised up to 30 tickets. On 12 March, 449 tickets were listed on Viagogo and StubHub at prices exceeding face value, with the most expensive being £622 for a ticket originally priced at £45. By 31 March, this number had risen to 571 tickets, excluding duplicates, with a combined advertised price of £86,546 compared to a face value of £27,278.
Despite 90% of tickets being reserved for locals, listings originated from countries including the Netherlands, Dubai, Hong Kong, Belgium, Israel, North America, Sweden, Slovakia, France, Ireland, and Singapore, often without disclosing trader details, which appears to violate consumer protection regulations. In some instances, terms and conditions that could result in fans being denied entry if they purchased from a tout were not clearly stated. StubHub acknowledged an error in failing to flag resale restrictions and has since updated its system accordingly.
Financial Impact and Industry Response
The telecoms company O2, a venue sponsor, estimates that fans have lost £60 million to touts since the policy was announced, with supporters of artists like Olivia Dean, Bad Bunny, and Ariana Grande facing mark-ups of up to 1,000%. Annabella Coldrick, chief executive of the Music Managers Forum, emphasised, "A ban on ticket touting was one of only two music-related commitments in the Labour manifesto, alongside fixing EU touring. These are widely supported, pro-growth measures that will deliver tangible benefits to the British public." She cautioned that any further delay would "continue to cost constituents hundreds of millions of pounds a year."
In response, StubHub stated that sellers on its platform must adhere to requirements, including providing clear address details, and argued that price caps on resales could drive fans towards unsafe alternatives with higher fraud risks. Viagogo defended its operations as a "regulated marketplace, in full compliance in the UK and all markets where we operate, with robust security and fraud measures in place," adding that it would suspend or terminate accounts found in breach of policies.
The government has yet to comment on the matter, leaving the future of the touting ban uncertain as the king's speech approaches.
