Bridget Fox says "I'm backing Bingo" as campaigners take tax fight to Westminster

5.32.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 29th Jun 2009

Bridget Fox: increasing bingo tax puts community venues at risk

Bridget Fox, Liberal Democrat candidate for Islington South and Finsbury, spoke out today against the proposed increase in tax on bingo from 15% to 22%.

Bridget says "You don't have to be a bingo player to see that bingo halls matter. They provide a safe, inexpensive and friendly day out for many people. Online bingo is just not the same."

Bridget is giving her full backing to the Back Bingo campaign, which is opposing the new tax.

On Wednesday 1 July, local campaigners, including Dolores Murray of the Zimmers, will join bingo-lovers from across the country in Westminster, to demonstrate against the bingo tax rise.

The tax rise is part of the 2009 Labour Government Budget statement, backed by local Labour MP, Emily Thornberry.

The Government has been criticised for singling out bingo from other forms of gambling, including online bingo and betting shops, where the tax remains at 15%. Yet online gambling is less sociable and more addictive than playing in a bingo hall.

This increase in bingo tax will cost the Bingo industry around £33m every year. This will have a hugely detrimental impact on the 592 bingo clubs across the UK, putting many clubs at risk of closure. Islington has already seen the bingo hall on Essex Road close.

Bridget says, "If the Government over-taxes bingo, more venues will be lost. This is yet another example of the Labour Government making changes that hit ordinary working people and pensioners hard."

Related Link:

Back Bingo campaign.