Racing and bookmakers await fallout from no-confidence vote in Boris Johnson

The fallout from prime minister Boris Johnson surviving in Monday evening's vote of no confidence will have leaders of both the racing and betting industries waiting to calculate the possible implications.

The prime minister won the vote with a majority of 63, with 148 Conservative MP's voting 'no' for confidence in Johnson and 211 voting 'yes' from 359 ballot papers.

The ballot was called after Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the 1922 Committee which represents Conservative backbenchers, revealed the threshold of 15 per cent of MPs calling for a vote had been exceeded.

The vote's most immediate impact is likely to be felt in the area of gambling reform, with the government's white paper on the subject having been expected to be published in the coming weeks.

British racing's leaders had been most concerned about the impact of affordability checks being included among the government's proposals in the white paper, with analysis estimating the worst outcome being a £100 million annual reduction in the sport's revenues.

They had also been hoping racing would be spared from any clampdown on gambling sponsorship and advertising in sport.

The white paper, which had originally been expected before Christmas, is long overdue with the most recent expectation being it would be published before the end of this month.

Vote could delay gambling reform white paper

However, any delay caused by the vote of confidence might mean the white paper not being published before the summer recess starts on July 21, in which case it would be the autumn at the earliest before anything appears.

That, in turn, would mean time beginning to run short for any legislation to be introduced before the next general election.

A reshuffle was likely whatever the result of the vote of no confidence and should there be changes at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which has been running the gambling review, any new ministers there would want to have their say on the white paper before publication.

It is a possibility the white paper could be part of some "red meat" announcements made after the vote should the government believe gambling reform would play well with voters.

However, it has appeared the gambling review is not high on the government's priority list.

The same, sadly from the perspective of British racing's leadership, applies to the possibility of the review of the levy system being brought forward, despite gambling minister Chris Philp telling parliament recently that calls for such a move were being considered.

Brexit policy is another area which could be affected by the outcome of the no-confidence vote, with racing administrations in Britain and Europe hoping a successor to the tripartite agreement, which guaranteed free movement of horses and bloodstock, could be introduced.

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The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday