British MP: Proposals for affordability checks are 'utterly unacceptable'

[The Buzz]

In a parliamentary debate this week, Member of Parliament Philip Davies criticized the U.K. Gambling Commission and the affordability checks proposals put forth by the government as "utterly unacceptable."

The discussion in a crowded Westminster Hall was prompted by a petition urging the government to abandon its contentious proposals for checks, which garnered over 100,000 signatures. Several MPs who participated in the debate urged the government to reconsider, with Matt Hancock, the MP for Newmarket, labeling the plans as "a mistake" and emphasizing the need to halt and reevaluate the approach.

From Racing Post:

Davies, the Conservative MP for Shipley, said he regarded the attendance for the debate as a positive, and had taken encouragement from Andrew's comments about a willingness to examine ideas about the data being used in the checks and not wishing to push high net worth individuals away from racing.

However, he added: "What wasn't promising was that the minister basically made it clear they were going to crack on with affordability checks anyway, and pretty much at the levels that we're already envisaging. I think that was disappointing that in effect he didn't say, 'I hear the strength of feeling, I will go away and reflect on it'."

Nevertheless, Davies said that opponents of the checks needed to continue to pressure the government.

"If people give up the government and the Gambling Commission between them will just see that as a green light and press on at a hundred miles an hour," he added. "We have got to keep fighting if only it makes the final outcome the least worst option.

"Among those of us who were speaking against affordability checks there certainly is a sense of frustration and deflation that the government was not really prepared to think again about it."

Davies's parliamentary colleague Laurence Robertson also expressed regret about the minister's comments and that "we weren’t able to get any thoughts and reaction to what had happened in the room".

He added: "I’m concerned and everybody else who is worried about this policy was concerned by that response. The government really ought to take on board what was said and pause this. It’s a sledgehammer to crack a nut and I, like others, don’t think it addresses the actual problem."

Read more here: https://www.racingpost.com/news/gamb...-aZfUQ4H2hWDc/

[newcustomeroffer]

The elephant in the room here is that there will be a general election before this whole episode concludes and the government who are looking to implement this in all likelihood won't be the party in power after the election.

As to whether Labour will simply pick up the reins and plough on regardless given the weight of opinion and feedback to date remains to be seen, however them blindly adopting an unpopular, flawed or bad policy probably isn't the game.

[Sherlock]

The affordability checks are something that can resurrect the already dead affiliate industry in the UK. Coup de grace to the legacy rogue businesses.

I think right now I am making in the UK 1-3% of what it used to be a decade ago. An average African country makes me more. (I hope this is not racism like previous discussion about affiliate managers)

[newcustomeroffer]

Some relatively encouraging words from Stuart Andrew, who is the Gambling Minister, who at least implies he's not going to simply roll out these checks without proving they work first: https://www.racingpost.com/news/brit...-aUAaY1q0iAmQ/

[Pokerface]

It is indeed encouraging that they will not be signed off without proof they work. A refreshing statement.