MENSTON and Burley-in-Wharfedale’s MP came under fire on social media for his vocal opposition in the Commons to proposed legal requirements for tickets resales websites.

A vote after a debate saw the defeat of proposed clause to the Consumer Rights Bill, which would require websites reselling tickets for sports matches, concerts and theatres to state the face value of the ticket and who it was bought from.

Critics claim ticket touts are able to harvest large numbers of tickets using computer software which sidesteps restrictions imposed by promoters on the number of tickets that can be bought.

Tickets then appear for sale at inflated prices, in some cases for thousands of pounds.

Philip Davies MP criticised those who backed the clause in last Monday’s debate, and spoke in favour of the services provided by secondary ticket sales businesses, normally sold online.

Critics on social media website Twitter, including Walthamstow MP Stella Creasey, attacked Mr Davies for his stance.

In response, Mr Davies reiterated his stance. “If someone buys any product and they want to give it away or resell it at a profit they are free to do so whether it be a piece of art or anything else for that matter.

“If they buy a ticket and want to sell it on to someone else I don’t believe the Government should pass a law to stop them from doing so.

“There is market failure in the housing market with far more demand than supply but nobody stops people from selling on houses at a profit based on what people are prepared to pay for it.”

Big names of the sport, music and theatre world, ranging from the managers of bands One Direction and Iron Maiden, to the National Theatre, and the Rugby Football Union, have signed an open letter against unscrupulous practices in the ticketing industry.