MPs to raise concerns over No 10 advisers with links to gambling industry

theguardian.com:

MPs will this week write to the prime minister to voice concern that No 10 policy advisers with past ties to the gambling industry may be opposing tougher regulation designed to protect vulnerable people and addicts.

It comes as Guardian analysis reveals that the industry lavished £280,000 on MPs in the run-up to an overhaul of gambling laws, which were expected to be published next week.

Politicians enjoyed trips to Wimbledon, Lord’s and the Euro 2020 football tournament courtesy of the £11bn-a-year gambling industry, as well as fees for speaking engagements and salaries for second jobs.

In some cases, MPs spoke in parliament against tougher gambling restrictions on the same day they enjoyed the industry’s hospitality, or shortly afterwards.

But a letter due to be sent this week by a cross-party group of MPs led by the former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and the Labour MP Carolyn Harris is expected to focus on potential gambling industry influence within Downing Street.

Harris said: “It would be deeply concerning if unelected officials in No 10 with ties to gambling are now involved in making decisions about the contents of the government’s gambling white paper. Frankly the people of this country deserve better and it would bring into question all the outcomes of this review that we have already waited far too long for.”

While the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has drafted proposed reforms, No 10 will have the final say over whether betting logos should be banned from football shirts, as well as a proposed a mandatory levy to fund addiction research, education and treatment.

Westminster insiders said that DCMS proposals were meeting with scepticism from cabinet ministers such as Jacob Rees-Mogg but