Bingo Demonstration

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Congratulations to all those players, staff and MPs who came out in support of BINGO on Wednesday 1st July 2009. It was a truly memorable event, that was literally heard in both The House of Lords and House of Commons!

Over 500 players from across the country descended on Old Palace Yard Westminster to fight for Bingo, ensuring that their presence was well and truly felt. Clubs attending, who were representing the interests of ALL of Britain’s Bingo Players were:

Argos Bingo Llanelli
Cosmo Bingo Stalybridge
Deluxe Bingo Eastbourne
Gala Bingo Hengrove Bristol
Gala Bingo Stockland Green, West Midlands
Mecca Bingo
Mecca Bingo Acocks Green
Mecca Bingo Aldbury
Mecca Bingo Bristol
Mecca Bingo Camden Town (London)
Mecca Bingo Crewe
Mecca Bingo Cwmbran
Mecca Bingo Dagenham
Mecca Bingo Hackney Road (London)
Mecca Bingo Harlow
Mecca Bingo Hornchurch
Mecca Bingo Luton
Mecca Bingo Romford
Mecca Bingo Southampton
Mecca Bingo Swansea
Mecca Bingo Wood Green
Palace Bingo Elephant and Castle
Pavilion Bingo Toxteth
Ritz Bingo Castleford.

Unfortunately, despite making huge efforts, one group of demonstrators heading down from Liverpool got stuck in everything from motorway traffic to a police coach check and sadly did not make the event. The 32 degree heat did not sap players energies or appetites to be heard! Some marched on foot, others arrived in an open top double decker bus !

The unfair increase in tax for Bingo has received considerable MP support, across all parties, with some coming over to meet players immediately after Prime Minister’s Questions on the day, these included:

Clive Betts (Lab; Sheffield Attercliffe)
Tobias Ellwood (Con; Bournemouth East) – Conservative Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport
Nia Griffith (Lab; Llanelli)
Greg Hands (Con; Hammersmith and Fulham) – Conservative Shadow Treasury Minister
John Hemming (Lib Dem; Birmingham Yardley)
Stewart Hosie (SNP; Dundee East) – SNP Treasury Spokesman
Sian James (Lab; Swansea East)
John Mason (SNP; Glasgow East)
John Pugh (Lib Dem; Southport) – Lib Dem Treasury Spokesman
Bob Russell (Lib Dem; Colchester)
Andy Slaughter (Lab; Ealing, Acton and Shepherds Bush)
Bob Spink (Independent; Castle Point)
Edward Timpson (Con; Crewe and Nantwich)
Andrew Turner (Con; Isle of Wight)
Hywel Williams (Plaid Cymru; Caernarfon)
Richard Younger-Ross (Lib Dem; Teignbridge) – Lib Dem Spokesman for Culture, Media and Sport

Such has been the success of the action that players are considering whether to repeat demonstrations across the country, throughout the summer and into the autumn.

For a file of media coverage see attached file (download file)

What is the Bingo Bond?

It is not too late for the regulatory landscape to change so that bingo can flourish once more.

We are asking parliamentary candidates to sign the ‘bingo bond’ to show their support for the bingo industry and call for a fairer taxation regime.

For more information click here