MP Steve Barclay voted against government colleagues in a bid to save sports and music fans from being exploited by ticket touts.

The government voted down an amendment put by the House of Lords to a bill that would force sellers to declare when they are reselling tickets and to disclose the number to the issuing organisation.

The Lords amendment had cross-party support but failed to gain government backing in a vote held on Monday.

Conservative Mr Barclay, who represents NE Cambridgeshire, said: “I was in favour of the changes which would stop those receiving tickets for prestigious sporting and music events at discount prices cashing in and making a fast buck.”

The move came after bodies like the Rugby Football Union, the England and Wales Cricket Board and Horse Racing asked parliament to end the practice where people obtaining tickets at a discount go on to sell them at inflated prices.

In previously refusing legislation, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has argued that it is for the bodies selling tickets to enforce their own terms and conditions, the Lords amendment would have enabled them to do this.

Mr Barclay added: “Constituents can see that through my vote I supported fans and not those receiving tickets at a discount and making a fast buck in breach of the basis for which they received that ticket and in a way that avoids money going back into the sport, band or theatre running the event.”