Oasis tickets scandal update as Keir Starmer lashes out at profiteers (original) (raw)

The Prime Minister said he was "committed to putting fans at the heart of music" after mammoth price hikes for Oasis tickets caused misery for millions

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PMQs: Keir Starmer weighs in on Oasis tickets 'online touting'

Keir Starmer has vowed to end the "extortionate" resale prices seen by millions trying to get tickets to see Oasis this summer.

He said it's "great that Oasis are back together" but described high-price ticket resales as "depressing".

Labour and Co-operative MP Emma Foody asked during PMQs : "Last week, ticket-selling websites like Ticketmaster left millions of Oasis fans furious, but worse still came minutes later when tickets started to be relisted online for thousands of pounds.

"This profiteering at fans' expense is not a one-off."

Fans were also left shocked by standard tickets more than doubling from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster, due to dynamic pricing for the tour, which will be the band's first since breaking up in 2009.

Separately, tickets were seen at hugely inflated prices on resale websites within minutes of going on sale.

The MP for Cramlington and Killingworth called for a "new licensing body with real teeth to tackle this online touting", adding: "Does the Prime Minister agree with me that fans should be at the heart of live music and that urgent action is needed to protect fans against this horrid practice?"

The Prime Minister replied: "Yes I do. Firstly, it's great that Oasis are back together.

"I think, from what I've determined, about half the country were probably queuing for tickets over the weekend but it is depressing to hear of price hikes.

"I'm committed to putting fans at the heart of music and ending extortionate price resales, and we're starting a consultation to work out how best we can do this."

Keir Starmer said ticket profiteering was "depressing" (

Image:

Redferns)

The Co-operative Party is campaigning for a tough new licensing scheme to target prolific ticket touts, issuing a range of sanctions including removing websites and hefty fines.

Ms Foody added: “Going to see your favourite bands live shouldn’t cost the earth, but fans are increasingly priced out thanks to the scourge of dynamic pricing and ticket touting.

“A new licensing body with real teeth would ensure that fans are put back at the heart of live music.”

Following the ticket furore, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received 450 complaints about Ticketmaster adverts for the Oasis gigs.

A spokesperson for the UK's regulator of advertising said the complainants argue that the adverts made "misleading claims about availability and pricing".

Ticketmaster has said it does not set prices and its website says this is down to the "event organiser" who "has priced these tickets according to their market value".

The long-awaited Oasis reunion tour drew huge attention from fans as it will see the Some Might Say hitmakers on stage together for the first time since their major split in 2009.

On August 31, they revealed the general sale tickets for their upcoming 17 UK and Ireland gigs had sold out in less than a day, but many fans missed out as they battled website issues and being mislabelled as bots.

Other international dates are still to be announced, but no more UK shows will be added to their tour, the PA news agency understands.