New Speaker of the Commons backs Bingo!
As exclusively reported by the Sun, it appears the recently elected speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow is backing calls for the Government to reconsider the impact of it’s bingo policy. Around 100 MPs have now signed up to the early day motion which will hopefully be debated in Parliament, asking Chancellor Alistair Darling to rethink the disastrous hike in bingo duty from 15 to 22 per cent.
The motion urges MPs to show support for bingo halls that stand to be crippled by the rise in taxation following the April budget. Furthermore, it asks the Chancellor to “consider the future impact” of the new charges, which could see more and more bingo halls shutting their doors and as a result, more jobs being lost in what looks like a looming period of inactivity in Britain. Latest figures suggest unemployment will already rise by 10% in 2010, and the taxation measures, which many criticise for unfairly targeting the already blighted land based bingo industry, may cause further unnecessary woe.
The report reveals that Mr Bercow signed up seven days before his appointment as Speaker on Monday, and no doubt cements Bercow’s image as a strong advocate of progressive parliamentary reform.
The chief executive of the Rank group, which is one of the UK’s biggest bingo operators, said: “The support we have received from MPs from all parties shows the strength of feeling there is about what the Government is doing to bingo.
“It’s good to see that our new Speaker believes in fair play too.”
Bingo operators are already dealing with declining membership levels due to the recession and the smoking ban, and the migration of many players to popular online bingo halls. Many are suggesting the increase in duty to 22% will provide a further nail in the industry’s coffin. Earlier, it had been reported that one of the largest land based operators, Gala Coral, were closing an additional 6 clubs, with nearly 200 jobs to be cut as a result and experts warn around 100 local clubs could be closed over the next year as the industry struggles to stay afloat.
A campaign has been launched, with organisers vehemently vocal about the necessity of the land based bingo industry, arguing it is a treasured national pastime. The news of Mr Bercow’s intentions to see the motion debated in Parliament will no doubt come as further welcome support, as the industry prepares to throw all of its efforts into ensuring it’s survival.