Wednesday 9th of December 2009
Crewe MP joins bingo tax fight
The bingo tax battle has gained another impassioned supporter in parliament.
Earlier this year, Sandra Gidley, MP for Romsey, and John Barrett, MP for Edinburgh West, were publicly opposed to the government's planned hike in duty for licensed bingo clubs.
They were soon joined by Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake, who dismissed it as "yet another example of misdirected taxation", and veteran South Staffordshire MP Sir Patrick Cormack.
As if all that wasn't enough, Crewe and Nantwich MP Edward Timpson has joined the growing chorus of disapproval.
Mr Timpson, himself a member of a Crewe bingo club, has even had a stab at calling bingo numbers in the past, reports the Crewe and Nantwich Guardian.
And he pledged to fight on behalf of the thousands of Crewe bingo players because "their voices need to be heard in parliament".
Bingo tax "makes no sense"
He added: "Bingo is one of the most social and least addictive forms of gambling. This new tax makes no sense."
Furthermore, Mr Timpson has underlined his intent by signing a motion against the bingo tax.
He explained: "I put my name to the Early Day Motion to send a message to the government that this campaign will not go away."
In April 2009, chancellor Alistair Darling shocked bingo lovers across the country when he announced a rate hike for the bingo industry.
Under the proposals, tax on licensed bingo clubs would be raised to 22 per cent while duty on activities such as sports betting, casinos and online bingo would remain fixed at 15 per cent.
