MP calls for crackdown on internet ticket touts

The UK government has been urged to crack down on people who resell tickets online for profit, amid reports that thousands of tickets for Take That's forthcoming sell-out tour are in the hands of touts.

SNP MP Pete Wishart said ministers must update consumer protection laws to protect the public.

The Nationalists' culture spokesman and a former member of rock group Runrig said touts who rip off fans were "threatening the viability" of the live concerts.

The MP for Perth and North Perthshire spoke out after it was reported yesterday that 50,000 Take That tickets were being resold online for at least double their face value.

Mr Wishart said: "Touting has become rife for all major entertainment events while at the same time threatening the viability of the whole live music sector.

"The UK government must now take action to protect fans who are being ripped off and let down.

"Given what we have discovered about the scale of the problem, the wgovernment must consider all options to tackle this, including making the secondary selling of concert tickets illegal, similar to what happens for major sporting events."