13.05.2026: UK Music Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has criticised the Government over its failure to press ahead with a manifesto pledge to crack down on ticket touts.
Tom wrote to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ahead of the King’s Speech today (May 13) urging the PM to deliver on his manifesto promise to crack down on unscrupulous ticket touts by introducing a price cap on secondary ticket sales.
Tom also appeared on Radio 4’s Today programme to demand strong action against touts. His call came amid reports that the urgently needed clampdown – promised in Labour’s 2024 election manifesto – would be dropped or downgraded in the King’s Speech.
The proposed legislation was included in the King’s Speech, but only as a “draft Bill” which means the process of it becoming law will take much longer and is far more uncertain.
Giving his reaction, Tom said: “The Government’s failure to take long promised action on the shady ticket touts and rogue businesses who continue to rip off consumers is a betrayal of millions of music fans.
“Until we get action on sky-high ticket resales, we will continue to see cash siphoned overseas from the wallets of UK fans and the UK music industry in order to swell the already huge profits of ticket resale businesses.
“The Government appears to prefer keeping FIFA, UEFA and the IOC happy, as opposed to music fans, by the bizarre decision to announce immediate plans to ban resale at major sporting events, instead of introducing caps on the live music secondary ticketing market.
“I urge MPs to explore the legislative programme and identify alternative opportunities to ensure primary legislation is passed in this year’s Parliamentary session.”
You can read details of Tom’s letter to the Prime Minister here.
You can read coverage of Tom’s reaction to the King’s Speech here:
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