Gordon Brown's sleight of hand

One of many reasons why this Government is so unpopular is Gordon Brown's sleight of hand. You know what I mean - the nifty little tricks that imply that the Government is helping someone or something -when in reality they are doing the precise opposite.

I was reminded of this with the recent Budget. For months now, I have been working with Harlow Bingo Club in a campaign to remove VAT from Bingo participation fees. The Bingo Club is a community Institution, has 42,000 members in Harlow, and is used by young and old alike. This VAT tax was crucifying the Bingo industry, leading to the closures of clubs up and down the country.

So, it was good news that, after much lobbying, including a local petition, Chancellor Alistair Darling, announced in the Budget, a removal of the VAT for Bingo - or so we thought. In a classic case of Gordon Brown trickery, the Treasury have instead increased Bingo duty, from 15% to 22%. The net effect of this means that Bingo will have to pay millions of pounds more to the Taxman, than they were doing under the old unfair VAT system. This is because Bingo duty affects revenue from all games of duty, whereas the reduction in VAT benefits less than one-third of revenue from Bingo. What is even worse, is that this change has been imposed without prior indication of consultation and was brought in under the cover of removing the discredited VAT tax.

The impact of this new tax rate could have dire consequences for clubs like Harlow and will impact on the thousands and thousands who enjoy the game, not forgetting the many who are employed by Bingo Clubs.

I have said it before and I say it again here, I am not a gambler, have no love for Casinos and the like, but fundamentally believe that Bingo Clubs like the one in Harlow, are wonderful places, in the heart of the community. Loved by staff and customers alike, they provide an important social amenity, which should not be discounted. What Gordon Brown has done, is more than a sly-trick - its unforgivable.

By Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

From St George to Bingo and Whizzkidz

As you know, from a previous posting, I am a great fan of Harlow Bingo Club. So I was delighted to be invited today to help the Club launch their new venture with Whizzkidz. From what I can see, Whizzkidz, is a pretty remarkable charity that helps young disabled people. Harlow Bingo Club has come up with a great idea which involves raising funds for Whizzkidz to get wheelchairs for youngsters. The Club is inviting members to donate unused and old mobile phones, which the club will sell for cash, with all proceeds going to the charity.

I have a strong belief that the Bingo Club is a real community institution in Harlow, and their latest effort is a tribute to the club, its manager, Bernie Dullaghan and Deputy Manager, Steve. Incidentally, it was lovely to go into the Club today and see staff decked out in St George's Day outfits and special St George's celebrations going on indoors. Having gone to the Club, straight after handing out thousands of St George's Day Cards in Broadwalk, I felt immediately at home!

Rob Halfon ~ Working hard for Harlow, Hastingwood, Nazeing, Roydon & Sheering. http//roberthalfon.blogspot.com

A fair deal for Harlow Bingo

I have been to Harlow Bingo Club, in Terminus Street, a few times now, including once with Shadow Business Minister Mark Prisk MP (see picture on the right). It really is a special place and incredibly popular with local residents. Would you believe, the Bingo Club has 42,000 members from Harlow and the surrounding areas? I am not suprised at all. Manager Bernie Dullaghan and the Staff provide an amazing service, and its become a real community institution, patronised by old and young alike.

We are lucky to have a bingo club, as across the country, many clubs have closed, partly because of the smoking ban, but also because Bingo clubs have to pay extra taxation to the government.

For some bizarre reason, the British bingo industry continues to be threatened by the grossly unfair system of ‘double taxation’. Current UK tax rules dictate that bingo revenues are subject to the payment of both 17.5% value added tax and 15% gross profits tax. No other form of gambling or leisure industry in the UK is subject to a comparable regime. This is despite the fact that bingo is widely regarded as the softest form of gambling.

Double taxation was a contributory factor in the closure of 37 bingo clubs in Great Britain in 2007 and many more will close if it is not reformed.

Unless the Government reforms bingo taxation, clubs like the excellent Mecca bingo here in Harlow are in danger of closure. This has a direct implication for the people who work in the club, who will be left unemployed, the thousands of customers (principally women and a large number of elderly people), who will suffer the loss of an important social amenity and hardworking British taxpayers, who will be left to foot the bill for the loss of bingo's substantial contribution to the economy.

I am supporting the campaign for a better deal for bingo here in Harlow and all over the United Kingdom and I urge you to do the same.