Bob Spink MP for Canvey Island has pledged his full support and is voicing his concerns over the recent tax changes to bingo. Mr Spink, former conservative party member and now independent visited the Rio Bingo Club on Canvey Island on Friday 19th June 2009.

Mr Spink was met by bingo boss Mr Dave Holt and discussed the recent tax increase to which Mr Spink had confirmed signing an Early Day Motion to have the issue raised again in Parliament. The EDM so far has 88 signatures and needs another 12 for the issue to be raised.

Bob Spink took a tour of the bingo club and addressed the bingo players during a bingo session and was applauded for stressing his support and has stated he will assist in any way he can to highlight the important role of a bingo club in the community.

Many Mecca bingo clubs have already received many MP visits whilst more are planned including the Hippodrome in Bishop Auckland next Friday and the Regent Bingo Club in Spalding on 17th July 2009.

Yvette Cooper, MP for Castleford has been invited to attend the bingo club in Castleford but as yet is still to confirm. However Miss Cooper was contacted by her local press and attempted to justify the recent tax change by stating VAT was removed from bingo profits and the bingo industry should be better off. This was disputed by the company as many bingo games played in a bingo club were already VAT exempt and have been for many years.

Yvette Cooper has later stated she will write to the treasury ministers for more explanations and investigations and promised to get back with a reply to the newspaper. Miss Cooper has also stated that since she is a minister she cannot sign the Early Day Motion and show public support to reduce the tax back down to be level with casino and bookmakers.

The Ponefract and Castleford Express newspaper have pledged their full support and branded the tax hike as sexist, ageist and unfair.