Gambling reform not included in King’s Speech as Labour lays out priorities
Single paragraph commitment in party’s general election manifesto will not materialise into fresh legislation in the first 12 months of the next parliamentary session
Gambling reform was not involved in the King’s Speech as the Labour government laid out its plans for the next year of parliament in the traditional manner via King Charles III’s address in the House of Lords.
The King’s Speech, which is written by the government for the sovereign to read, marks the start of the parliamentary year and the new Labour government’s top-line priorities after coming into power.
The speech outlined 40 bills Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his cabinet will look to push through in the first 12 months of power, although it appears there is no room for gambling.
Gambling is also not referenced in the 105-page background briefing document released by the government today.
Labour’s general election manifesto included just 37 words on the sector, which remains wrapped up in the white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review.
The manifesto read: “Labour is committed to reducing gambling-related harm. Recognising the evolution of the gambling landscape since 2005, Labour will reform gambling regulation, strengthening protections.
“We will continue to work with the industry on how to ensure responsible gambling.”
It now appears that Labour will continue on the trend as laid out under the previous Conservative government, with the first trial period for financial risk checks due to begin next month and slot stake caps coming into effect in September.
However, with Labour expected to be in power for another five years, the opportunity to revisit gambling legalisation is within the government’s scope.
Starmer named Wigan MP Lisa Nandy as secretary of state for DCMS and retained Stephanie Peacock as gambling minister after she served in the same role in his shadow cabinet.
Previously speaking to EGR, Northridge Law partner Melanie Ellis said: “The first key date will be the King’s Speech on 17 July, when we can expect to find out which, if any, gambling reform legislation is being prioritised.
“From Labour’s manifesto, all we really know so far is that it intends to reform gambling regulation and strengthen protections, although this would be achieved by simply continuing with the reforms proposed in last year’s white paper.
“Following the King’s Speech there may be a bit of a scramble to deal with pressing issues such as compensation for those affected by the infected blood scandal, dealing with strikes by junior doctors and halting deportation flights to Rwanda ahead of the summer recess.”
Other omissions from the King’s Speech that Labour campaigned for in the manifesto included lowering the voting age to 16 and forcing peers in the House of Lords to retire at 80.
The headline bills laid out by King Charles III include the Great British Energy bill to bring about a publicly owned clean energy production company, a national wealth fund bill and new border security measures.
Image credit: The White House (public domain photo)