Jowell makes concessions in casino vote
MPs will be able to scrutinise the decision to site the UK’s first super casino in Manchester, the culture secretary Tessa Jowell has conceded.
With the government facing rebellion in the Commons, Ms Jowell has accepted a House of Lords amendment calling for a parliamentary committee to consider the government’s super casino proposals.
Earlier the culture secretary had called on MPs to accept its plans in their entirety, warning a refusal to site the UK’s first super casino in Manchester could result in the entire casino package being scrapped.
The government is facing a close vote in both the Commons and the Lords as it asks MPs and peers tonight to approve plans for 17 regional casinos, including the controversial super casino in Manchester.
The culture secretary originally offered parliament an “all or nothing” vote to accept the Casino Advisory Panel’s recommendations in full, saying the government should not “cherry pick” its recommendations.
The panel chose Manchester as the site for the UK’s first super casino, citing deprivation in the eastern side of the city. Many were surprised by the recommendation and argue Blackpool is more deprived and a more suitable location.
More than 100 MPs, including 83 potential Labour rebels, have now signed a motion backing Blackpool for the bid. The early-day motion, tabled by Blackpool North and Fleetwood MP Joan Humble, calls on the culture secretary to convene a parliamentary committee to reconsider the plans.
“The government should be aware that what we want is an opportunity for Blackpool’s bid to be properly considered. We want fairness in this,” said Ms Humble.
There are suggestions Ms Jowell will now attempt to “buy off” rebels by offering a multi-million regeneration package to Blackpool.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Ms Jowell denied she was bribing MPs. “We are not talking about buying off a rebellion. This is very much in response to specific representations by a very large number of MPs,” she argued.
The Liberal Democrats have warned MPs to be wary of Ms Jowell’s regeneration package and questioned whether she would be able to come through with the funds.
Culture spokesman Don Foster said: “Gordon Brown has already made his opposition to any more super casinos clear. The chance of a second super casino being positioned so near to the one in Manchester seems highly unlikely.
“Wavering MPs should demand to see the colour of Gordon Brown’s money before buying into such wishful thinking.”
The Liberal Democrats had said they would vote against the government because the “process has been rushed through without sufficient scrutiny”. It is not yet clear if Ms Jowell’s concession will affect their vote.
David Cameron has also ordered Conservative MPs to vote against the proposals.
Despite the Labour whips issuing a three line whip on tonight’s vote, Westminster insiders claim it is too close to call. It was originally expected up to 20 Labour backbenchers would vote against the government at 7pm.
Earlier the Lords supported an amendment by Baroness Goulding calling for a parliamentary committee to scrutinise the plans.
It had been questioned whether opposition from the Lords would see the whips withdraw the vote from the Commons. However, the government instead appears to have accepted the Lords amendment.
Ahead of today’s vote, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith published the interim findings of his social policy group, which warned Manchester was the “worst possible location”.
A new super casino would cause “degeneration not regeneration” in east Manchester, the group argued. Mr Duncan Smith claimed the government had been “seduced by the international gambling industry” and told parliament it had a duty to vote against the plans.
