MP Supports Bingo Tax Changes

Enthusiastic bingo players have been campaigning to keep bingo games alive in the town of Tynemouth and are appealing against the bingo tax ruling.

Tynemouth (UK) MP Alan Campbell is currently in discussions with colleagues to try and change the bingo tax ruling after a petition was brought to his attention by protesters.

Mr. Campbell met with the bingo tax campaigners from North Shields based bingo club ‘Beach Bingo,’ where he listened and supported their campaign to save the local bingo clubs.

The group produced the MP with documentation as evidence and a petition which was signed by over three hundred people in the area.  The group discussed the impact of the Government’s budget and pointed out that the allocated bingo budget saw their tax liability rise to 22 per cent and that local clubs were facing financial difficulties, with some resulting with closure.

Mr. Campbell said: ‘I am concerned that the model used by the Treasury in calculating these changes does not take into account the precarious position of the smaller clubs.  I am lobbying the Government to look again at these changes.’

‘I know that bingo clubs are used by many of my constituents, particularly the elderly, and have become a vital part of our social fabric.’