Ticket touts’ worst nightmare has finally come true in the UK

Last May, in a dimly lit basement beneath London’s South Bank, the UK’s most prolific ticket touts gathered to discuss Labour’s plan to effectively put them out of business.

One seasoned ticket “trader” pleaded with colleagues to help fund a war chest to lobby against the party’s election manifesto pledge to ban reselling tickets for profit.

If the policy went ahead, he warned in undercover footage filmed by the Guardian , the risk was stark. “Bottom line is, we are all fucked.”

Eighteen months later, the worst nightmare for touts – and the resale platforms through which they ply their trade – has come to pass.

On Wednesday, the government confirmed reporting by the Guardian and the Financial Times that reselling tickets above face value will be outlawed.

After more than a dec