More delay would playing into the hands of the SNP and other opposition parties who claim that ‘Westminster isn’t delivering.’
With more people at home and severely restricted, the pandemic has exacerbated regulatory concerns about betting and gaming.
Plus: As of writing, I’ve had hardly any communications at all from constituents about the Coronavirus.
We need to be alive to adding to the impression that the fixing of a social harm can wait a few months while we find a way to replace lost revenue.
In response to questioning over Crouch’s resignation, the housing secretary says, “We want to see this introduced properly and effectively”.
The Government has been bold on this so far and now it must be bolder still. For some, this pause may have tragic consequences.
Outside Westminster, Crouch’s resignation will make little impact on a Budget that has gone more or less according to plan. Inside, it may not be quite the same story.
The Government should consider setting up a domestic policy Cabinet sub-committee to help alleviate the Brexit bandwidth problem.
A warning against cutting maximum stakes on popular gaming machines.
On what basis would they then be prevented from appearing in pornography? Should they then not be tried as adults and sent to adult prisons? And so on.
The proposals risks forcing more than 4,500 betting shops to close by 2020, with a serious knock-on effect for neighbouring businesses.
For four years in a row the number of bookmakers has declined.
There is nothing like FOTBs anywhere else in Europe. This toxic mix of high stakes and rapid spins is leaving an alarming amount of people with addiction and debt.
My Campaign for Fairer Gambling will continue to press for stakes to be capped at £2.
Government should be passionate about self-reliance, but we must also recognise the transformative power of an enabling state.