MP proposes ticketing legislation

Ticket sellers will be required to state maximum prices at the start of the buying process under proposed legislation in the wake of the backlash to the use of dynamic pricing for the forthcoming Oasis tour.

The Sale of Tickets (Sporting and Cultural Events) Bill has been put forward in the House of Commons by Labour MP Rupa Huq as a Private Members’ Bill, of which only a minority actually become law.

Huq, who is MP for Ealing Central and Acton, said she was “scandalised” by the Oasis ticketing situation and felt people were pressured to pay the high prices after waiting for six hours.

She said that while the bill calls for a maximum price, dynamic pricing could still be used for prices to go up and down within that range.

“There needs to be some fairness in the process because it feels as if the consumer balance is wrong and the ticket merchants can literally double it, triple it, think of a number, infinity and beyond,” she said.

“This won’t outlaw dynamic pricing, it’s just introducing transparency and certainty because there is a place for the market as well.”