Labour survives backbench rebellion on gambling
The Government has survived a potential backbench rebellion over controversial plans to liberalise Britain’s gambling laws.
Last night, MPs approved the second reading of the Gambling Bill by 286 votes to 212, giving the Government a reduced majority.
A total of 29 Labour MPs voted defied the wishes of whips, including Frank Dobson, Frank Field, Kate Hoey and Clare Short.
Jeremy Corbyn and David Taylor voted in both in the “aye” and the no lobbies, and so effectively abstained.
The Bill, which the Government insists is primarily designed to improve regulation and protect children and other vulnerable groups, would also open the doors to so-called “super casinos”. These could offer slot machines with unlimited prices and be open 24 hours a day.
But the Government yesterday stressed legislation would not permit a breakout of rampant addiction.
Tessa Jowell, Culture Secretary, aware Labour backbenchers had reservations over the bill, said the new law would protect the “weak and the vulnerable” via a “triple lock” mechanism of local authority planning permission, the role of the Gambling Commission and a rigorous licensing regime.
