UK minister hits out at ticket sellers in pun-filled video about Taylor Swift

The UK government has notified ticket sellers that a consultation on secondary sales will be launched in the autumn.

A Video linked to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour tour datesBusiness Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has confirmed plans to introduce consumer protections for ticket resales to stop people being ripped off.

The Guardian reported that over the years, sellers charged huge fees for tickets they snapped up and quickly posted on secondary ticketing websites, including £85 tickets to see Adele sell for £24,000.

Fans have been caught in scams involving non-existent tickets as well as legitimate tickets being resold at high profit margins. Recently, Lloyds Bank estimated the loss at £1 million Only on fake tickets for Swift’s UK tour dates.

Last year, the previous Conservative government rejected plans to crack down on the sector, with a campaign group backed by Ed Sheeran, PJ Harvey and the Arctic Monkeys warning that fans would continue to face widespread theft from street vendors on resale websites.

Details of the consultation, which will be launched in October or November, have not been released, but Reynolds said it will include proposed safeguards aimed at protecting consumers, businesses, artists and sports stars.

In the video, he showed off his knowledge of Swift’s back catalog, but not his mastery of puns, warning hucksters: “Going to a present should be a love story, not to be fooled by the hucksters we know so well. Many have become accustomed to accepting a vacuum in our finances at the mercy of the huge profits of street vendors. But this is our music, and it’s time to be fearless.

He added: “My message to street vendors: I know you’re a problem, now look what you’ve done to me.”