In 2025, the UK’s labour government announced that it intended to “ban ticket touting (scalping) to protect fans from rip-off prices”, and claimed that on average, resale tickets would be £37 cheaper on average, saving fans collectively £112 million per year. Artists, managers and industry bodies who had campaigned for this celebrated.
Then, last week, reports via the Financial Times hinted that the UK Government was shelving the plans until the 2027-8 parliament session, in order to prioritise other legislation.
The same previously-happy people are now angry. Adam Webb, Campaign Manager of campaign group FanFair Alliance, had a blunt assessment: “it would be bewildering if the Government now decided to postpone legislation and relegate the interests of UK consumers. We urge them to stick to their word and deliver these measures without delay.”
He was joined by a host of other annoyed voices: Annabella Coldrick, chief executive of the Music Managers Forum called the possible delay, “ridiculous […] we were told 2026 would be the year of action, not announcements.” Jon Collins, CEO of live industry body LIVE said, “The plan to include legislation as a draft risks delaying action by three years, at a cost of nearly £500 million to consumers;” and chief executive of the UK Music org Tom Kiehl was disappointed at the idea of the government reversing “a manifesto commitment to take action against these rip-off merchants who prey on music fans and suck money out of the industry.”
There is wide support for the cracking down of inflated resale ticket prices, backed by the public, consumer experts and artists – last year an open letter was signed by Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Radiohead, Sam Fender, Iron Maiden and more. We discussed this issue on Music Ally’s The Price of Music podcast this week (host Steve Lamacq was not thrilled with the news.)
