It's a controversial practice which left many Oasis fans looking back in anger, but a Norfolk MP has questioned whether the government should be probing 'dynamic pricing'.

Fans of the Gallagher brothers were shocked when standard tickets for the Britpop band's reunion tour more than doubled in price on Ticketmaster last month.

Oasis band members Noel Gallagher (left) and Liam Gallagher (right)Oasis band members Noel Gallagher (left) and Liam Gallagher (right) (Image: Zak Hussein/PA Wire)

It prompted the government and the UK’s competition watchdog to pledge to look into the use of surge pricing.

Broadland and Fakenham MP Jerome MayhewBroadland and Fakenham MP Jerome Mayhew (Image: Danielle Booden)

But Jerome Mayhew, Broadland and Fakenham MP, has questioned whether the government should be getting involved in the price of tickets - taking a dig at the furore over prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and other cabinet members getting free tickets to see Taylor Swift in the process.

Conservative MP Mr Mayhew asked in Parliament on Thursday when consultation on dynamic pricing - increasing or decreasing ticket prices based on demand - and the unauthorised resale of tickets, known as secondary ticketing, would be launched.

Sir Chris BryantSir Chris Bryant (Image: PA)

Culture minister Sir Chris Bryant, said: "We want to put fans back at the heart of live events and we want to ensure that more of the revenues come to the creative industries.

"That is why we will be launching a consultation on the secondary ticket market soon - the piece of paper in front of me actually says 'in the autumn', but I am never quite sure when that is, so I am going with 'soon'."

But Mr Mayhew said: "I understand the need to look at secondary ticketing, but dynamic pricing is a contractual bargain between buyer and seller, based on supply and demand.

"It actually gives us cheaper tickets as well as more expensive ones. Does he really want the government to get involved there? I know that the prime minister wants everyone to be able to afford concert tickets, but what is wrong with the way that he gets them?"

Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift

Mr Bryant said: "The truth is that dynamic pricing has many different forms and some of them are good.

"For instance, early bird tickets benefit many people, as does buying last-minute tickets for the theatre.

"We will not interfere with that, but we will have a call for evidence about how that works in relation to live events."