Supporter of gambling reform Michelle Donelan appointed new culture secretary

The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has welcomed Michelle Donelan to her new role as culture secretary, which includes responsibility for the government's gambling review.

The MP for Chippenham, 38, who has previously supported reform of the gambling industry, will head the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) following prime minister Liz Truss's cabinet reshuffle.

Donelan entered parliament in 2015 following a career in media and entertainment, and spent three years at the Department for Education. She became the shortest-serving cabinet minister in British history in July after spending two days as education secretary under the then prime minister Boris Johnson.

The government's gambling review was launched in December 2020 but its resulting proposals have yet to be published, with the white paper the subject of continued delays. Its reforms are expected to include plans for controversial affordability checks for punters.

BGC chief executive Michael Dugher said he congratulated Donelan on her appointment "on behalf of the 119,000 people whose jobs are supported by our members".

He added: "We have been working extremely closely with the DCMS over many years to help the government find the right balance in the gambling review, so that we continue to drive big changes and higher standards on safer gambling to better protect the most vulnerable, while at the same time ensuring that the millions of people who enjoy an occasional flutter perfectly safely and responsibly have the freedom to do so."

Michael Dugher: Betting and Gaming Council chief executive welcomed Michelle Donelan to her new role as culture secretary

In 2018, Donelan gave her support in parliament for government plans to dramatically reduce the stakes on gaming machines in betting shops, saying it addressed an issue which had "destroyed far too many lives".

She also asked what could be done to address the "dramatic" increase in gambling advertising, which she claimed was "preying on the vulnerable".

Donelan's appointment was also welcomed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gambling Related Harm, which tweeted that "reform cannot be delayed any further".

Among Truss's other cabinet appointments have been chancellor of the exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng, whose constituency includes Kempton, and equalities minister Nadhim Zahawi, whose constituency covers Stratford racecourse.

Further appointments, including those of the ministers immediately responsible for sport and for horseracing and gambling, are set to be made in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Truss told the House of Commons on Wednesday she would be making an announcement on Thursday about the "immediate action" she planned to take over rising energy bills.

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