In a piece written for The Independent, Benn has called for government legislation to be introduced to stop the reselling of tickets for extortionate prices. Benn says that he doesn’t understand why it is illegal for Olympic tickets to be resold for a profit but the same doesn’t apply across the board.

 

Benn, who also organises Latitude festival, writes: “I don't, unlike ticket touts, want to see ordinary people priced out of going to see concerts, plays or matches in a time of austerity.

 

“I also believe it's very unfair that the profits made on secondary ticket sales [… ]go straight into the pockets of touts, who in turn then pay no tax on their profits.”

 

Benn has the support of some music industry representatives as he has called for a 10 per cent profit cap on the resale of tickets.

 

Reading and Leeds recently announced the Alternative Stage line-up.