Gambling crackdown sparks fierce Tory revolt with MPs blasting plans as ‘completely outrageous’

A GAMBLING crackdown sparked a fierce Tory revolt last night — with MPs blasting the plans as “completely outrageous”.

Senior Conservatives accused “snobbish” ministers of punishing ordinary punters with proposed affordability checks.

They also warned of a jobs bloodbath in horse racing.

A backlash has been brewing since the Government announced laws to monitor the financial data of those who lose as little as £125 a month or £500 a year.

Bosses say the move would cost horse racing £50million.

Tory Philip Davies said: “The Government is snobbishly treating punters as some kind of pariah.

“It’s completely outrageous.

“The party used to believe in individual freedom and individual responsibility.”

Burton MP Kate Kniveton said her constituents feared “intrusive checks”.

And Chris Grayling, who has Epsom racecourse in his constituency, warned job losses “would be enormous”.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport insisted its plans are “light-touch, frictionless checks to protect people from potentially life-changing losses”.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/feed/

Jack Elsom

February 26, 2024 9:09 pm