By Sarah Smithon Friday, 3 Aug 2007 The campaign to end the unfair taxation of bingo has gained another high-profile supporter after the member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Aileen Campbell joined the movement.
Ms Campbell, who at 27 is the country's youngest serving MSP, is due to meet with industry chiefs in order to discuss how to best proceed to make bingo exempt from VAT.
The pledge of support comes soon after Glasgow MSP Bob Dorris tabled a motion highlighting the inequality of the system, which currently rules that bingo is liable to VAT while other forms of gambling, including casino games and horse racing, are not.
"It can't be right that those who attend Royal Ascot are not required to pay VAT, but go along to the Gala in Irvine and 17.5 per cent VAT is slapped on to your game," she told the Irvine Herald.
"As far as I am concerned that's a tax on people least able to afford it."
Late last month, the prime minister said that he is willing to discuss the matter with bingo bosses, with Mr Brown having been urged to throw a lifeline to the industry which has already been badly hit by the smoking ban.
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