Brexit and good governance – no need for a FOBT referendum
Campaign for Fairer Gambling
The Campaign for Fairer Gambling reflects on the EU referendum campaign and calls on the Government & DCMS ministers to 'get on with it' and reduce the maximum stake per FOBT spin to £2.
As a democracy, we get the government we choose, so in turn we get the referendum they offered and receive the decision they deserved. With the official political party lines, other than Democratic Unionists and UKIP, all being on the same page and with all the international support for Remain by the Government and from experts, this indicates there was more to this result than just support for Leave. There must now be recognition of the dissatisfaction felt by the public surrounding politics.
The feeling that one has no control leads to anger and depression. If we are getting the media we deserve, then we are getting the bias we deserve. The public does not get adequate transparency.
The BBC tries to provide balance but this often involves giving credibility to the non-credible. Vested commercial interests use legal threats to stifle Investigative Journalism. Lawyers advise clients to stamp CONFIDENTIAL on everything to prevent wrong-doers being exposed. Blatant lies are presented as if they are facts.
Despite the work involved in arranging the best Brexit, the Government must make a strong priority of getting on with governing through sensible policy decisions. It would be a tragic waste if the remaining years of this Government were spent solely on resolving Brexit issues.
Healing the country must be the priority, healing the political parties will take care of itself – or not! Party divisions come and in the long run parties themselves come and go.
People want sovereignty - but their personal sovereignty is eroded daily. The terms and conditions that everyone faces can be difficult, particularly for the most vulnerable. Often the priority of even the most dedicated service providers is to place the system ahead of the public. Asset ownership is shifted around the globe to avoid moral and ethical tax obligations. Governments are scared to bite the bullet and take on powerful sectors.
A previous Campaign article relates to sovereignty over gambling laws. Offshore remote gambling sites claiming that they offer “responsible gambling” – whatever that actually means – also want to avoid paying tax at the point of consumption. But this is where the consequential harm is – the harm that gambling operators are responsible for!
Gambling is not recognised as a normal service throughout the EU, so why volunteer to give up any sovereignty over it? Why not require all sites that want to access UK gamblers to be based in the UK and pay UK taxes? Alongside this there must be adequate action against sites accessing UK gamblers illegally. Jurisdictions that enable this must be informed very strongly – Cease and Desist!
The referendum result shows that Government has not been listening adequately to local concerns. Government was not generous and magnanimous in granting enough powers to Scotland. What public danger would have arisen if Scotland had been granted autonomous control of gambling?
The Sustainable Communities Act, a Tory Private Members Bill, allows local authorities to petition Government. The only petition that has not been granted so far is the Newham Council resubmission, supported by almost 100 Councils – more than any other submission, to reduce the FOBT maximum stake per spin to £2.
What could make civil servants want to advise ministers not to grant this request? How can anyone perceive that central Government has better insight than local Government? How could DCMS think that the unelected quango of the Gambling Commission behind their desktops in Birmingham, or the part-time unelected advisers it appoints to the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board have a better grasp of FOBT issues than local Councils who have responsibility for policing those licences?
David Cameron said he would take a proper look at FOBTs in the House in 2013. DCMS produced the £50 FOBT threshold proposal in 2014. DCMS evaluation of this measure proved to be totally inadequate as explained by Landman Economics. Yet Government still claims to be looking at the “findings”. The promised Triennial Review of Stakes and Prizes consultation is well overdue, but Government can’t advise on the date.
Dithering is no longer an option. The public deserves transparency and action. The Government has the power to address the FOBT market monopoly anomaly. DCMS has the power to reduce the maximum stake per spin to £2. There is no need for a referendum on FOBTs. Just get on with it! Good governance requires expeditiously taking care of the small stuff, allowing more time and resources to get to grips with the primary issues.
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