Government backs down on changes to betting machines

GOVERNMENT plans to delay a cut in the maximum stake for fixed odds betting terminals by six months have been embarrassingly abandoned in the face of a rebellion by Conservative backbench MPS.

A reduction in the top wager from £100 to just £2 will now come into force in April, after more than 70 MPS set out to sabotage a plan unveiled in the Budget to push it back to October.

The climbdown was signalled by Theresa May, the Prime Minister, in the House of Commons hours before she unveiled a Brexit deal that was set to infuriate many of her backbenchers.

The timing was seen in Westminster as a bid by Mrs May to soften up Eurosceptic Tory MPS ahead of a likely stormy debate on the Brexit deal today in the House of Commons.

That delay sparked the resignation of Tracey Crouch, a sports minister, as well as condemnation from MPS who believed that the cut was vital to protect vulnerable people and families.

Jeremy Wright, the Culture Secretary, said: “The Government has been clear that protecting vulnerable people is the prime concern, but as a responsible government it is also right to take the needs of those employed by the gambling industry into account and provide time for an orderly transition.

“Parliament has, however, been clear that they want this change to be made sooner. The Government has listened and will now implement the reduction in April 2019.”