HMVNipper
May 05, 2003, 04:19 AM
No link, sorry, but this might be of interest. I put it here because even though it has to do with Paul, it seems to me to be more general news.
***************
May 2 2003
Call for ticket probe
by Claire Stoker
OPPOSITION leaders today (Friday, May 2) demanded an investigation into the
Paul McCartney ticket scandal at Liverpool town hall.
Council employees were given the chance to reserve tickets 24 hours before
the box offices opened.
The council's allocation of 5,000 tickets was supposed to be sold to the
general public through Liverpool Direct. But all 19,500 council employees
were given the early chance to reserve as many as they wanted.
Today, Labour leader Joe Anderson demanded an inquiry to find out who made
the decision to give priority treatment to the town hall workers.
Cllr Anderson said: "We are trying to find out who made the decision and let
this happen - we will continue looking until we find out."
Liverpool council's director of finance, Phil Halsall, said the council is
the biggest employer in the city. By giving its workers the chance to buy
tickets first, Liverpool people could get as many of the tickets as
possible.
But stories were emerging today of council workers snapping up tickets and
giving them to family and friends from outside the city.
Yesterday 30,000 tickets for the June 1 concert, the last date of Macca's
tour, were snapped up in less than four hours.
At first a council spokesman said 3,800 of their 5,000 ticket allocation had
been reserved by their staff in advance. Some 2,000 took up their option and
bought tickets.
Cllr Joe Anderson said the council's decision to jump the gun was atrocious.
He said: "I was appalled the council would give its workforce and
councillors
privileged opportunities.
"We are all public servants and that doesn't mean we should be privileged
above everybody else - it's that attitude that gives local government a bad
name.
"I heard stories of council officers buying four to six tickets and giving
them to people outside Liverpool so the idea that this was to give Liverpool
people an opportunity to buy tickets backfired."
Mike Storey, leader of Liverpool's Liberal Democrat group, was unavailable
for comment.
Hopes for a second Macca date in Liverpool, to cope with the unprecedented
demand for tickets, faded as his spokesman, Geoff Baker, said it could not
be
done.
He said: "Paul would love to do another gig in his home city but it's just
not possible.
"The rescheduled Sheffield gig is on May 29 and we have to pack up and move
the stage to Liverpool. The Liverpool gig is officially the end of the tour
so half our crew are off to other jobs the following day."
***************
May 2 2003
Call for ticket probe
by Claire Stoker
OPPOSITION leaders today (Friday, May 2) demanded an investigation into the
Paul McCartney ticket scandal at Liverpool town hall.
Council employees were given the chance to reserve tickets 24 hours before
the box offices opened.
The council's allocation of 5,000 tickets was supposed to be sold to the
general public through Liverpool Direct. But all 19,500 council employees
were given the early chance to reserve as many as they wanted.
Today, Labour leader Joe Anderson demanded an inquiry to find out who made
the decision to give priority treatment to the town hall workers.
Cllr Anderson said: "We are trying to find out who made the decision and let
this happen - we will continue looking until we find out."
Liverpool council's director of finance, Phil Halsall, said the council is
the biggest employer in the city. By giving its workers the chance to buy
tickets first, Liverpool people could get as many of the tickets as
possible.
But stories were emerging today of council workers snapping up tickets and
giving them to family and friends from outside the city.
Yesterday 30,000 tickets for the June 1 concert, the last date of Macca's
tour, were snapped up in less than four hours.
At first a council spokesman said 3,800 of their 5,000 ticket allocation had
been reserved by their staff in advance. Some 2,000 took up their option and
bought tickets.
Cllr Joe Anderson said the council's decision to jump the gun was atrocious.
He said: "I was appalled the council would give its workforce and
councillors
privileged opportunities.
"We are all public servants and that doesn't mean we should be privileged
above everybody else - it's that attitude that gives local government a bad
name.
"I heard stories of council officers buying four to six tickets and giving
them to people outside Liverpool so the idea that this was to give Liverpool
people an opportunity to buy tickets backfired."
Mike Storey, leader of Liverpool's Liberal Democrat group, was unavailable
for comment.
Hopes for a second Macca date in Liverpool, to cope with the unprecedented
demand for tickets, faded as his spokesman, Geoff Baker, said it could not
be
done.
He said: "Paul would love to do another gig in his home city but it's just
not possible.
"The rescheduled Sheffield gig is on May 29 and we have to pack up and move
the stage to Liverpool. The Liverpool gig is officially the end of the tour
so half our crew are off to other jobs the following day."