06.05.2026: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to stand by his commitment to crack down on unscrupulous ticket touts ripping off music fans. The call comes after legislation to tackle exploitative practices on the secondary ticketing market has reportedly been dropped from the upcoming King’s Speech on May 13.
Tom joins a raft of major artists and music leaders calling on the PM to stick to his manifesto promise to “put fans first” by ending exorbitant pricing on the secondary ticketing market. The campaign has garnered widespread industry support and has been spearheaded by the likes of the FanFair Alliance, the Music Managers Forum, UK Music and others.
Tom Kiehl said: “Unscrupulous ticket touts have been ripping off the UK’s music fans for too long and undermining our world-leading sector which contributes £8 billion a year to the economy.
“The Government made a manifesto commitment to take action against these rip-off merchants who prey on music fans and suck money out of the industry.
“Action is long overdue. We need Ministers to live up to their promises to cap ticket prices and finally tackle the rampant abuse of the secondary ticketing market.”
In November 2025, following an open letter signed by artists including Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Radiohead, Sam Fender, Iron Maiden and Robert Smith, the UK Government announced a raft of pro-consumer actions that would prevent the reselling of tickets for live events above original cost.
Then Business Secretary Peter Kyle said at the time that “bold new measures” would put an end to ticket touts ripping off real music fans, while Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the proposals “will shut down the touts’ racket and make world-class music, comedy, theatre and sport affordable for everyone”. According to the Government’s analysis, these plans stand to save fans an estimated £112m annually.
However, it is now being widely reported that only draft legislation is likely to be announced in the King’s Speech next week, meaning music fans may have to wait years for meaningful legislation to come into action.
FanFair Alliance Campaign Manager Adam Webb said: “We were promised fans would be put first. We were promised an end to exploitative ticket touting. Having made such strident commitments in November last year, it would be bewildering if the Government now decided to postpone legislation and relegate the interests of UK consumers. We urge them to stick to their word and deliver these measures without delay.”
Music Managers Forum Chief Executive Annabella Coldrick said: “We were told 2026 would be the year of action, not announcements. It’s ridiculous that after a manifesto commitment, full consultation and cross party support this Government doesn’t appear to be able to actually deliver any change.”
LIVE CEO Jon Collins said: “We welcomed the Prime Minister’s promise to tackle touts last year but a draft bill is not enough. The plan to include legislation as a draft risks delaying action by three years, at a cost of nearly £500 million to consumers. Fans have waited long enough for an end to the ticket touting scandal, and there is no need for further consultation. It’s time for Government to deliver on its promise.”
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