Industry reacts to Liz Truss being named the new Prime Minister

Liz Truss has been named the UK’s 80^th Prime Minister after defeating Rishi Sunak in a fiercely contested Conservative Party leadership race. Truss will now head to Downing Street to take her seat as the third female Prime Minister, replacing Boris Johnson who was ousted from his position following a party revolt this summer.

Truss’ in-tray is daunting. The former Foreign Secretary faces a mountain of domestic and international issues including the rapidly accelerating cost-of-living crisis, the ongoing Russian-led invasion of Ukraine and bringing together a country still baring scars of party-political infighting, Brexit and Covid-19.

However, the pressing issue of the publication of the white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review is still pertinent, and despite Truss’ attention being drawn elsewhere, it is of paramount importance for her government to manage the new legislation after having been delayed several times since 2020 due to the pandemic and various resignations.

The white paper, which former Gambling Minister Chris Philp delivered to Downing Street before his resignation as part of the plot to remove Johnson from office, is waiting for sign off.

Damian Collins replaced Philp, but the white paper faces further delays as Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, a loyal Johnson apostle, has resigned from her post following Truss’ ascension to the Premiership.

In his resignation letter, Philp implored the government to publish the “undiluted” version of the white paper, with lobby groups circling. It remains to be seen what low-tax, anti-state and personal freedom advocate Truss will green light in the coming weeks.

EGR spoke to several key industry figures about their thoughts on what a Truss-led government could mean for the industry and when we can finally expect the white paper to be published.

Melanie Ellis, Northridge Law partner:

“Liz Truss will find a full in-tray on her desk and I suspect the Gambling Act review will be towards the bottom of the pile.  She has been accused of micro-management in the past and I would anticipate she will want to have some input regarding the final proposals, rather than pushing the white paper through after a quick review.

“In terms of what direction any changes to the draft might take, Truss will keen to shore up support with her voter base, but also be mindful of funding her proposed tax cuts and support for energy bills.  Taking into account her dislike of the nanny state, my expectation is that she will examine the proposed changes to gambling regulation with a view to ensuring that they are not imposing unjustified restrictions on individuals’ freedom of choice, or the ability of gambling businesses to contribute to the economy.”

David Clifton, Clifton Davies director:

“That’s an incredibly difficult question to answer but, let’s face it, gambling reform is hardly going to be the new Prime Minister’s top priority so the long-awaited white paper may not see the light of day for some time yet. There is also the widely publicised rumour that Iain Duncan-Smith will have a place at the cabinet table. That would hardly bode well for the industry, given his very outspoken anti-gambling pronouncements as a combative vice-chair of the gambling-related harm APPG.”

I am honoured to be elected Leader of the Conservative Party.

Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country.

I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential. pic.twitter.com/xCGGTJzjqb

— Liz Truss (@trussliz) September 5, 2022

David Richardson, Better Change strategic partnerships manager:

“My personal view is that it will happen, but we won’t see it until the spring. There are other more pressing matters to be dealt with first, but they can’t afford to just let it disappear. They’re already being laughed at for how long it’s taken to get through and the pressure will intensify by any further delays.

“Whatever happens, I hope there will be a tender process for any new systems and processes that are to be centralised. Uncertainty is not good for any stakeholder in the industry but more than anything, let’s not forget that people who are suffering from gambling-related harm are not waiting for the government to release a white paper, they are living with it. The sooner the political conversations can stop, and action can happen, the better for everyone.”

Richard Williams, Keystone Law gambling and regulatory partner:

“When Chris Philp resigned as Minister for Technology and the Digital Economy on 7 July 2022, he urged then Prime Minister Boris Johnson to deliver the Gambling Act review ‘in full and undiluted’ in order to ‘protect people from the ravages of gambling addiction’.

“On her appointment as the new Prime Minister, Liz Truss highlighted her immediate priorities, including cutting taxes, growing the economy, dealing with the energy crisis, supporting the NHS and aiming for a general election in 2024. Not surprisingly, there was no mention of gambling legislation and this is unlikely to be a priority with other far more pressing issues to deal with.

“Truss did, however, restate Conservative values of ‘freedom, the ability to control your own life, low taxes and personal responsibility’.  This certainly does not sound like an interventionist government or a nanny state. There may be yet another delay before the white paper is published, and whether the strong measures in the white paper will now be watered down, as Chris Philp had feared, remains to be seen.”

Matt Zarb-Cousin, Clean Up Gambling director:

“The new Prime Minister has the chance to take immediate credit for a review spanning many years by announcing the oven-ready white paper, in full and undiluted. Ending gambling advertising in football, stake limits for online slots, a consumer ombudsman for gambling and a levy to fund treatment are all popular measures that can help define the new administration.”