Politician has stint as a bingo caller
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 | Bingo News
The Foreign Secretary David Miliband took some time out of the cut and thrust world of politics, by being a guest bingo caller at the Mecca Bingo club in South Shields in Tyneside which is in his constituency.
David Miliband was invited as a guest bingo caller by Mecca’s chief executive Ian Burke as part of the firm’s campaign to end the double taxation which bingo halls have to pay to the government. Apparently, Mr Miliband is now against the double taxation which his government has put on bingo halls.
At present bingo operators pay 15 percent tax on gross profits as well as 15 percent VAT.
Ian Burke told The Shields Gazette, “I invited Mr Miliband to hear a small presentation about the double charges bingo halls have to pay.
“At the moment many halls are suffering and have been closed due to numerous factors, including the recession, and the double charges aren’t helping.
“I thought this would be a good opportunity for him to meet with the people from his constituency, and see just how important bingo is to them.”
After hearing the presentation, Mr Miliband turned bingo caller in a free game for the club’s members.
He had a tough act to follow as he took over from the club’s usual bingo caller Blake Robson who is the Bingo Caller of the Year.
However, Mr Robson said after Mr Miliband had finished his bingo calling, “I thought his efforts were fantastic – I think I might have to turn to politics and he can be a caller!”
Mr Miliband told the Shields Gazette, “I was delighted to visit Mecca Bingo. A number of important issues have been raised, and I will be taking these back to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
“However, I think I’ll be sticking to my day job and leaving the calling to the experts.”
Mr Miliband is not the only politician to have paid a visit to the South Shields Mecca Bingo Hall. His opponent Karen Allen who is the Conservative candidate for South Shields at the next general election has also visited the bingo club.
She accepted an invitation from Dale Atkinson, the operations manager who also highlighted the issue of double taxation in the bingo industry to her. She also acted as guest bingo caller.
After her visit, Karen Allen said, “Since 2003, almost 5,000 jobs have been lost nationally in the bingo industry and more clubs look set to close.
“Bingo halls are struggling to stay profitable, and being taxed at 30 percent is not helping – it’s adding to the strain.”