Helen Goodman MP for Bishop Auckland visited her local bingo club yesterday afternoon and met with the bingo club Manager Norma Guy alongside and another company representative. Ms Goodman as a Government Minister voted with her party against any amendments

for bingo duty against the bingo industry. After powerful and compelling arguments from the Hippodrome Bingo bosses, she has now committed herself to writing a formal letter to the Treasury and is asking them to clarify the Labour Party position.

Helen Goodman by no means attempted to justify the government's stance and has also given a lot more consideration for the future survival of the industry. The main argument put forward to the MP was "Why is the UK's softest form of gambling taxed at the highest level?" Norma Guy gave a passionate argument for the important role the bingo club plays in the local community often caring for the elderly in the afternoon and prolonging their independence.

Ms Goodman was given a warm welcome and the Hippodrome Bingo representatives are hoping to continue a close relationship with the Government whilst continuing to play its role as being a vital part of the social fabric in UK society. Some bingo clubs are in financial meltdown, so the Treasury need to act fast if it wants the bingo industry to keep up the good work but as the clock is ticking and more closures are imminent, time is running out for the Bingo Industry and this will damage the Government if the Treasury continue to ignore this very important and crucial issue.