Bingo Tax Lobbying Set to Continue
Being closely involved in (especially working within) the political world, no matter what sentiments a person starts out with, people become skeptical and cynical rather quickly. Why? The practicalities of working within a ‘Party System’ are more than enough to dampen the personal sentiments and goals of most(if not all) MPs. A first rate example is the (bingo) amendment to the Government’s Finance Bill.
To start with, if your MP is a Government Minister be sure that he doesn’t have a free vote, never, ever –he/she must vote along party lines. It would be political suicide to do otherwise – especially where finance bills of any kind are concerned.
Don’t, think (in this latest case especially) any better of the Conservatives motives in relation to bingo though – they bleated in large numbers about the unfairness of the revised tax but how did they actually vote when it came to the crunch? Well – they didn’t vote players. Surprised? That’s right the Conservatives abstained! Probably because they simply don’t care, or maybe even they are thinking they may need the money themselves later on, if they get into power.
Or, more cynically, they keep quiet now, sentiments become even more heated in relation to bingo’s cause and then, when the election is called they can come out strongly for the industry, hoping the bingo will return the favour. This political technique is the cheapest way possible to acquire a massive lobby weapon for yourself at little, or no, expense.
Some colleagues think this latter alternative is the most likely and while it is by no means absolutely certain it is a strong possibility. What the bingo industry needs to be sure of is that it’s ready for it if that is the way the wind blows. That’s how lobbying works and if you aren’t ready to play the game – you’ll lose and we don’t want the bingo industry to lose the final battle – we want them to win the war!
One sad fact is (and as cynical as it may sound people need to consider this point) that very few politicians really care one way or another about anything else than being re-elected – so bingo players, operators and management need to be fully aware of both that fact and the necessity to use any weapon available to save a wonderful industry.
Bingo is an industry that is much more than a group of games, it’s a well entrenched, and valuable, social institution, part of the working person’s heritage. Bingo Halls have long since supplied all over the country, that place to go and socialize, and they have done so for many decades.
Be very sure of something, this is an important tradition that is being serious threatened by the House of Commons ruled Labour Government – supposedly the working man’s party. So any doubters out there, when you’re fighting for your area’s bingo, don’t take any prisoners – from whichever party they are derived.
Another thing to consider, what will happen to our older generations who have used their local bingo clubs as their one and only social venue and have done so for years – what will happen to these people? Does any politician really care?
