ATTEMPTS to prevent ticket touts ripping off customers will ensure no-one pays over the odds to watch Russell Brand, a shadow minister has said.

Labour front-bencher Stella Creasy told MPs the comedian's management was right to sign a letter demanding the Government cracks down on "unscrupulous practices" among websites reselling tickets, often at inflated prices.

After Shipley MP Philip Davies (Con) suggested the changes would lead to "more money for Russell Brand", Miss Creasy replied: "I promise you, we are absolutely not on this side committed to more money for Russell Brand.

"What we are committed to is people not paying over the odds to see Russell Brand."

The Government saw off the cross- party bid to tighten up ticket resale rules. An amendment to the Consumer Rights Bill, tabled by Labour's Sharon Hodgson and Tory Mike Weatherley, was defeated 289 to 204.

majority 85, as the Government moved to throw out amendments made by peers.

The Bill will now be reconsidered by peers in a game of Parliamentary "ping pong".Labour backed tighter laws demanded by peers to force sellers on secondary ticketing websites to provide their name, seat number, booking identification number and whether it contravened the terms and conditions of the ticket to resell it.

Ms Creasy had earlier said: "It takes a lot for those of us in this House to say that Russell Brand's management is getting something right, but they were one of the signatories of the letter we saw this weekend from event organisers and people across the political spectrum and across the industry saying that we needed to take on this issue around transparency."