Sunday, April 01, 2007

PLANS to build Britain's first supercasino in Manchester were THROWN OUT by
the House of Lords yesterday. In a disaster for Prime Minister Tony Blair
and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, peers blocked the Government's Gambling
Order by 123 votes to 120. The shock result leaves the vision of Las
Vegas-style casinos in Britain in tatters. And plans for 16 smaller casinos
are also on hold. Ms Jowell won't put a fresh order before Parliament until
at least May. Any new scheme is not likely to come to Parliament until after
Chancellor Gordon Brown has taken over as Prime Minister - and he is
lukewarm about the supercasino plans. Ministers had heralded the plans to
allow unlimited jackpot machines and roulette tables in huge leisure
complexes. Last month Manchester was the surprise choice by an independent
panel for the first supercasino, beating Blackpool and London's Millennium
Dome. At the time, Manchester Central Labour MP Tony Lloyd said opposing the
plans would be a "vote against Manchester". Church groups, the Salvation
Army and the Tories waged an anti-gambling campaign.
But yesterday MPs still backed the proposals by 274 votes to 250, a majority
of 24. However, the later defeat in the Lords by just three votes means the
Government will have to redraft its order. Last night Manchester was hoping
Ms Jowell could bring back a new order that was only slightly different and
kept plans for the city intact. She said she wanted "to reflect on the
outcome" of yesterday's vote and promised new proposals. But she could not
hide her huge disappointment that her plans had been disrupted. It will
probably be up to Mr Brown to rubber-stamp any new proposal. But just last
week he slapped a new tax on casino profits. Last night Lib Dem Culture
spokesman Lord Clement Jones hailed the Lords vote. He said: "Against all
the odds, this is an historic victory.
"Ultimately this is a triumph for Parliament and will ensure public
confidence in its scrutiny function and ability to hold the Government to
account."