Day of Reckoning for UK Bingo
Is today going to be the big day of reckoning for bingo in the UK? Or is it going to be just another one of those days where a government ignores the voice of thousands of people in favour of improving their financial bottom line.
Yes, today is supposedly one of the days when the government intends to ‘discuss’ the finance bill to put through the changes that were announced in the budget. We use the word ‘discuss’ loosely as the definition of that words means to either ‘talk about’, ‘converse’ or ‘thrash out’ something – but doesn’t the government give the impression that is has more or less already decided? Don’t people out there reading this think just that? The majority do we feel – they feel ignored by the majority on the whole with regard to the matter of bingo and its importance to them?
Well, if we are correct, and that is the case, their minds can still be changed but it just makes the task that little bit harder, as we all know when someone’s mind is ‘made up’ its always harder to get them to come to a certain point of view, than when dealing with people who have are wondering, who still have open minds.
So, if there is genuine discussion envisaged, obviously high up on that political agenda, if not on the top, would be the bingo duty rise to 22%, mentioned in the budget. Good to see that this increase has caused quite a lot of revolt even within MP ranks – as it certainly has within the bingo industry itself.
As we all know, the last days have seen protests outside the Houses of Parliament and bingo operators and leaders within the industry, as well as, ordinary bingo players, inundating Members of Parliament with letters of protest and displeasure at this particular government action.
Its great to see that there are a range of amendments to the finance bill being put forward, such as the one by a government back bencher, which are getting quite a lot of support from MPs. There no doubt will be even further amendments put forward, which will be back up passionately, due to the high emotions involved in this issue.
The stark fact is that if the tax rate is reduced, the bingo industry will steady and no doubt there will be further development and investment, but if the government ignore the passionate cries of so many, there will be little, if any, further investment in an industry which is being whacked so heavily by a government already. A government who have shown little regard or concern for the little people, the players whose whole life centres around this simple game. Well, they’ve shown scant regard up to this stage anyway.
Who knows which way things will go. There is an old saying that goes something like this; “There is none so blind as those who will not see” let us hope that the government takes off its blinkers and takes a long hard look at this stupid bingo tax!
Just to let you know that none of the proposed amendments went through and the 22 percent tax is set to remain much to the dismay of the bingo industry. We are shortly going to publicise which MPs voted against the amendments and we will probably go quiet and run our businesses as usual. Behind the scenes the industry will be seeking to find the party and MPs who will back a change and we will emerge during the election campaigns and influence a change of MPs and will seek the marginal seats of those that voted against fairness and publicise it. It is not the fact the rate is too much, it is the fact that it is blatantly unfair and that should be an issue for everyone whether you play bingo or not. Early indications show that the SNP and the Liberal party are behind the bingo industry, Labour seem to be split with ministers against us whilst the back benchers are totally with us (Again the votes for the amendments are from whips who cannot vote against the government as they could potentially lose their government ministrial position.) The conservatives are with us in principal but the industry is sceptical that if they got into power they would not change it and just blame it on the previous government. So there you have it. The purpose for sending this info is to help spread the awareness of this important issue facing the industry and get more support.
Comment by Sandra Thompson — July 8, 2009 @ 11:38 pm