'KEEP BINGO ALIVE' - SAYS SOLIHULL MP (Bromsgrove Liberal Democrats)

Bromsgrove Liberal Democrats <raygeoffray@aol.com>

'KEEP BINGO ALIVE' - SAYS SOLIHULL MP

July 13, 2009 5:26 PM
Originally published by West Midlands Liberal Democrats

Solihull's MP, Lorely Burt last week joined Liberal Democrat colleagues in Parliament in an attempt to scrap Government plans for an increase in tax on bingo from the current 15% to a new level of 22%.

The LibDems were the only major party to back a move to halt the increase in Bingo duty, with most Conservatives abstaining to allow a Government victory on the vote

"There are just under 600 bingo clubs in the UK and over 60 have closed in the last two years," said Lorely. "The situation for many of the others is bleak and an increase in taxation will put further clubs out of business.

"Ministers should be trying their utmost to keep people in employment, not putting more out of work as a consequence of greedy taxation policies. This piece of legislation shows that they have muddled priorities, given the devastating effect that it will have on livelihoods."

Mrs Burt has signed a petition on the No 10 website calling for the Prime Minister not to increase Bingo taxes. Over 2300 have already signed the petition, which can be reached at http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Bingoplayers/