Labour ministers voice unexpected support for gambling - but will their words be backed up by actions?

When Labour swept to power following the summer's general election, there would have been many in both the gambling industry and British racing afraid what lay ahead for the sector.

Labour would be regarded as generally looking far less favourably on gambling than their predecessors, and the Conservatives had not exactly been soft on operators given the breadth of action proposed in last year's white paper.

However, something perhaps unexpected happened last week. Not one but two senior Labour figures spoke about gambling and gambling operators in what could only be described as positive terms. First was chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves, who said she was proud that gambling businesses had chosen to invest and create jobs in Britain.