British politics is in the midst of a major makeover as a downtrodden Labour government, alongside major turmoil for the opposition Tories, has led to a void in the mainstream of Westminster.
Political conjecture indicates that the new characters emerging as a result of this seismic shift in UK politics aren’t here for cameos and are on course to potentially shape future government policy on a range of issues.
We are taking a closer look at the new figures in Westminster, and whilst cemented policy is still somewhat absent from the conversation, these increasingly influential figures do hold some views that could spell change for the gambling industry – a sector regularly at the behest of political volatility.
Zack Polanski
Starmer’s Labour have truly failed to connect with the left of Britain, a demographic the party firmly had behind it when the Prime Minister was second in command in Jeremy Corbyn’s Shadow Cabinet.
While flirting with a comeback with his new project, thus far named ‘Your Party’, Corbyn’s diminished presence from mainstream politics has left a large number of voters searching for a new home.
These voters have had to look no further than charismatic Mancunian Zack Polanski.
The new Green Party leader has thrust himself into the mainstream. His ability to tackle surging right-wing candidates head-on has endeared him to the left-wing masses.
Economically, he has expressed a strong appetite to tax “wealth and power” and create a more challenging framework for big corporations.
In terms of gambling specifically, his unapologetic populist left-wing approach to politics gives a strong indication that he is unlikely to be a favourable candidate for the industry.
Under Polanski, the Greens have taken a hard line on gambling, intrinsically linking the industry to animal cruelty – even going as far as to propose the banning of greyhound racing, a prospect the Scottish government under the SNP is already moving forward on.
On a personal level, Polanski has joined the criticism of the high street growth of the sector, which is already set to be hit under the current Labour government, as Starmer seems to be heeding calls to do so from his backbenches.
Speaking on X earlier in the year, Polanski was heavily critical of how ‘powerless’ councils are when it comes to halting the opening of gambling venues across high streets. He even singled out Lisa Nandy, DCMS Secretary, for backlash over her comments that the industry ‘should be allowed to thrive’.
Polanski has currently expressed no interest in working with Labour as part of a coalition, but many analysts are anticipating that this is where we could end up if the UK public leans left at the next general election.
Given that Polanski’s disdain for high street gambling seemingly aligns with many on the left of Labour, this could signal a challenging time for retail gambling.
Nigel Farage
He is far from a new face in British politics, but if the polls are any indication, Farage is closer to power than he has ever been in his long political career.
After years of Conservative frustration, the right is rapidly turning to Reform UK and Farage, a polarising figure who has been fairly outspoken when it comes to the gambling sector in the country.
When the government published its white paper recommendations, Farage utilised his platform on GBNews to question whether “in a free society, for an absolutely minute percentage of people that are problem gamblers, we need masses of new regulation”.
He specifically criticised the proposals to set new online gambling stake limits for 18-24 year olds.
Also, Farage’s stance on horse racing couldn’t be more contrary to his surging counterpart in Polanski. As the debate around taxation has intensified, Farage has thrown his weight behind the sport.
Providing an interview to the Racing Post, he stated: “I think there’s also an ignorance here, there is an assumption from members of parliament that all gambling is bad, that all gambling leads to ruin.
“Some of those machines are pretty addictive. I think that horse racing is different. I think you’re making an individual decision each time to have a bet; there are checks and safeguards in place already.”
“I see this again and again and again; people with little understanding of what they’re legislating on and making decisions for everyone else. I will certainly be fighting it.”
Farage even went as far as to describe governmental regulations on the gambling industry as “anti-fun”, as he warned of the harm they could do to the sector’s ability to grow.
Andy Burnham
Lingering in the background of discussions around the Labour Party, Andy Burnham’s path to a potential leadership position is convoluted and extensive, given he isn’t currently an MP.
That didn’t stop him from putting forward his case during party conference season, and whilst Starmer’s struggles fail to ease, the presence of the Manchester Mayor looms large, especially with a distinct lack of potential leaders in the cabinet.
A contender for party leadership back in 2015, Burnham has become a vocal critic of the gambling industry in more recent years, joining local councils in demanding that the Gambling Act review changes deal with local communities being overwhelmed by “24-hour slot shops”.
Supported by Burnham, the letter outlined six key proposals;
- Strengthening Local Authority Control: Allow councils to reject licence applications that may harm community safety.
- Reclassifying Gaming Venues: Treat bingo halls and adult gaming centres the same as bookmakers in planning policies to prevent loopholes.
- Considering Debt in Planning Decisions: Enable councils to consider local debt when approving new casinos, similar to how they regulate junk food outlets near schools.
- Independent Levy Administration: Manage gambling industry levies for research and treatment through an independent public body, with local distribution.
- Banning Gambling Advertising: Prohibit all forms of gambling advertising, promotion, and sponsorship to protect children and young people.
- Halting the Liberalisation of Gaming Centres: Pause plans to relax rules on adult gaming centres, following expert recommendations on machine safety.
Burnham has also been heavily critical of the marketing presence of gambling operators, launching a 2022 Manchester campaign to raise awareness about gambling harms.
This also led to him calling for increased protections to shield individuals from the marketing exposure of the gambling industry.
