MP swaps House for bingo

MP Adrian Bailey swapped the benches for bingo to highlight the plight of struggling Black Country halls.

The West Bromwich West MP visited Oldbury Mecca to talk to players about the importance of their local bingo hall to them.

Many centres are struggling to cope with the smoking ban and new laws banning some gambling machines.

Bingo halls also suffer through high taxes, having to pay a 15 per cent profit tax and 17.5 per cent VAT.

Mr Bailey called the numbers at the hall and chatted to some of the 100 people playing at lunchtime.

He said: “Bingo halls are a very valuable social facility, especially for women, and more specifically, elderly women.

“It would be devastating for local communities if these halls were to close, but they are being hit hard by the smoking ban, and new laws banning ‘aggressive’ gaming machines.

“Mecca has been campaigning against what they call the ‘double taxation’ and I have signed an early day motion suggestion the situation is looked at. I think it would be a terrible shame if bingo halls across the Black Country were to close because they are struggling financially.”