OpinionOn The Money
premium

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

Industry editor Bill Barber’s weekly take on the key stories from the worlds of racing and betting

author image
Industry editor
Lisa Nandy walks along Downing Street on Saturday prior to attending her first cabinet meeting
Lisa Nandy: culture secretary said gambling brought "joy" to many peopleCredit: Paul Ellis (Getty Images)

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.

Read the full story

Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.

Subscribe to unlock
  • Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
  • Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
  • Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
  • Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
  • Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
  • Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Subscribe

Already a subscriber?Log in

Published on inOn The Money

Last updated

iconCopy