Work intensifying on UK laws to stamp out concert ticket touts, say sources
News Source
β’Sat, 26 Sep 2026 11:00:35 GMT
π° What Happened
The UK government has stepped up work on new laws to stop ticket touts fleecing concert fans. Sources told the Guardian that civil servants have formed a sizeable 'bill team' to draft the policy and guide it through parliament. They are also looking at ways to stop touts and resale sites moving offshore to avoid the rules.
π The Backstory
Labour promised to ban the for-profit resale of tickets in its 2024 election manifesto. Keir Starmer said last year that the government would stop fans being ripped off on sites such as Viagogo and StubHub. The measure was left out of this year's king's speech, which worried music industry figures.
Artists including Radiohead, Dua Lipa and Coldplay back the plan. The rapper Tinie Tempah and the Smiths' drummer Mike Joyce have pressed ministers on the issue. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said the government treats it as a priority.
π― Why It Matters
Fans often pay far more than face value for gigs they badly want to see. New rules could make tickets cheaper and fairer.
The UK government has stepped up work on new laws to stop ticket touts fleecing concert fans. Sources told the Guardian that civil servants have formed a sizeable 'bill team' to draft the policy and guide it through parliament. They are also looking at ways to stop touts and resale sites moving offshore to avoid the rules.
Labour promised to ban the for-profit resale of tickets in its 2024 election manifesto. Keir Starmer said last year that the government would stop fans being ripped off on sites such as Viagogo and StubHub. The measure was left out of this year's king's speech, which worried music industry figures.
Artists including Radiohead, Dua Lipa and Coldplay back the plan. The rapper Tinie Tempah and the Smiths' drummer Mike Joyce have pressed ministers on the issue. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said the government treats it as a priority.
Fans often pay far more than face value for gigs they badly want to see. New rules could make tickets cheaper and fairer.