Complaint to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards on Philip Davies MP
The Campaign for Fairer Gambling responds to a story in The Times newspaper
A serious matter was raised in The Times on 3 March 2016, which featured the story "Tory MP is the bookmakers’ favourite" and the editorial "All bets are off" regarding Mr. Davies. The Times explained that Mr. Davies had been allowed to operate a profitable account with Ladbrokes. The Campaign for Fairer Gambling has also been informed that Mr. Davies also enjoys a similar account with William Hill.
The climate of corporate bookmaking is such that even break-level accounts are being closed or their bet levels restricted, a fact which sparked the launch of the campaign, “Justice for Punters”. Therefore, any profitable account that is allowed to remain functional arouses some suspicion but it would be equally suspicious if a losing account was allowed to continue operating even if losses were not being paid.
Mr. Davies could only enjoy profitable accounts due to his position in parliament and his willingness to speak up on the bookmakers’ behalf. Whilst there may not be documentary evidence to prove this beyond a reasonable doubt, it is clearly and convincingly above the balance of probability that there is an organised, financially beneficial relationship between Mr. Davies and the bookmakers.
Whilst profits from gambling are not taxable income to an individual, any organised gambling profits based on pre-arranged business endeavors, such as running a poker game for profit, is considered as taxable income.
Therefore Mr. Davies should be questioned for not declaring proceeds from his privileged gambling accounts, and should also be questioned as to whether he is both liable to income tax, and avoided paying it on those proceeds.
He should be required to produce full records of all accounts with bookmakers, and all communications with bookmakers.
The Code of Conduct for MPs states: “The rules on lobbying are intended to avoid the perception that outside individuals or organisations may reward Members, through payment or in other ways, in the expectation that their actions in the House will benefit that outside individual or organisation, even if they do not fall within the strict definition of paid advocacy. They prevent a Member initiating proceedings or approaches to Ministers, other Members or public officials which would confer a financial or material benefit on such a person or organisation.”
Philip Davies MP has also made a number of interventions in the House of Commons in support of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals and was photographed in a private meeting with lobbyists from William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral in 2014.
The MP for Shipley has previously been investigated by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner and In 2013 Mr. Davies was found to have breached the Code of Conduct for MPs having not declared hospitality from Ladbrokes before questioning Ladbrokes’ CEO during a Select Committee inquiry into the Gambling Act. Both his membership of the All Party Parliamentary Betting, Gaming Group of which he is Chair, and also his fitness to represent the interests of his constituency as an MP, should be investigated as a matter of urgency.
Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, said: “Mr. Davies’ response does not address the substance of the complaint but states that I am vindictive and vexatious. This comes from an MP who has filibustered against cross-party supported Private Members Bills.
“Mr. Davies represents only the most blatant example of politicians who enjoy bookmaker hospitality at racing and sporting events, often below the reporting threshold. Some politicians are eager to be wined and dined by the bookies, even at their respective party conferences.
The bookies used their political connections to avoid being placed under gambling regulation until the 2005 Gambling Act. This is how they were able to introduce FOBTs illegally. There is now more than enough evidence to justify the FOBT maximum stake reduction from £100 to £2 per spin, which has been demanded by a record number of local authorities under the Sustainable Communities Act. “
