Watson: It’s time to call a halt to “industrial scale” ticket touting

Tom Watson told a cast of musicians and producers that “the big ticket rip off” must be stopped and fans given a fair deal.

Watson, deputy leader and shadow culture secretary, was speaking as he moved Labour’s fight against consumer rip-offs to the entertainment sector.

A cross-party campaign event was held alongside the FanFair Alliance yesterday, initiated on Labour’s side by Sharon Hodgson, co-chair of the APPG on ticket abuse. The event was scheduled to coincide with the digital economy bill being debated in the house of commons. A cross-party amendment was put down to ban these “bots” in secondary ticketing and jail any touts misusing these “bots”.

Watson and other MPs were joined by various celebrities, including Imogen Heap, the band You Me at Six and the producer of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Sonia Friedman.

Botnet or “bots” refer to software that buys up large numbers of tickets in one go far quicker than any person could, then puts these tickets bought in bulk on sale on secondary ticketing sites at a much higher price.

Last week the issue was brought to wider attention as 60,000 new Harry Potter and the Cursed Child tickets released promptly sold out, but with many appearing on Ebay and StubHub at many times face value.

Watson said: “The industrial-scale market abuse currently happening in the secondary ticketing market can’t go on.”

“Today was a fantastic show of unity with all sides of the House of Commons, the entertainment industry and ethical ticketing groups, telling the Government enough is enough.”

“It’s time to end the big ticket rip off, ban bots, and finally put fans first.”