Dynamic duo who pushed for change to cut gambling misery
Political editor David Williamson looks at an unlikely partnership that has broken new ground
ONE of the “strangest” political friendships in Westminster is at the heart of the story of how MPs put the UK government under pressure to slash the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals to just £2.
Swansea East Labour MP Carolyn Harris has been a ferocious critic of the way Universal Credit – the welfare reform pioneered by former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith when he was Work and Pensions Secretary – has been introduced. She warned of shelves at a local food bank being emptied, and was at the forefront of calls to delay the roll-out of the changes.
But the former barmaid and dinner lady forged a powerful political partnership with the Sandhurst graduate in a bid to stop gambling addiction ruining more lives.
Gamblers have been able to bet £100 every 20 seconds on fixed odds betting terminals and Ms Harris found Mr Duncan Smith – who launched the influential Centre for Social Justice after his time at the helm of the Conservatives – an ideal partner in the push for reform.
She said: “I think I hounded him a bit at the beginning because you need someone on those benches working with you and I can’t say how wonderful he’s been.”
Ms Harris, who came to UK-wide attention through her successful push for the elimination of child burial fees, acknowledged there was a “massive political divide” between the pair, but saluted the effort he put into lobbying ministers at the top of government.
She said: “I phoned him up some days and said, ‘Oh, look, I’m really worried about this, I’m really worried about that,’ and he’d go off, he’d come back and he’d say, ‘Right, I’ve had words about that here, I’ve spoken to Theresa, I’ve spoken to Philip Hammond.’ He’s been really candid and truthful and honest with me and I really respect the contribution he’s made.”
The case for slashing the maximum stake was so strong, she believed, that it was only a matter of time before the government changed the law.
She said: “When you look at how much money is spent out of the public purse on mental health on housing, on benefits, when you look at the social consequences for individuals and the families, there was never any doubt in my mind that the government would have to do the right thing. It was just when they would do it.”
Ms Harris chaired the Fixed Odds Betting Terminals All-Party Group, with the DUP’s Jim Shannon and the SNP’s Ronnie Cowan serving as vicechairmen.
She admits she saw a new side to Mr Duncan Smith as they fought their campaign, with the duo sometimes speaking several times a day.
“I saw a different person and it’s not the persona I expected to find,” she said. “It probably won’t do his or my street cred any good to say nice things about him but I’m a firm believer in credit where it’s due... I think if anybody was ever to do one of those weird things – ‘strange political friends’ – me and Iain Duncan Smith would probably be the strangest of all.”
Mr Duncan Smith said they were able to bring together his “experience in government and her great campaigning energy”.
He acknowledged the pair had talked about Universal Credit but he makes the point that he resigned in March 2016 because he was concerned about cuts in funding.
He continues to push for greater funding, and argues that “if you take the politics out of Universal Credit” it has greater capacity to reduce poverty than any other system – and he claims the technology is now “working brilliantly”.
Describing his collaboration with the Swansea East MP, he said: “I’ve loved dealing with her because she is just literally a force of nature and when she brings her focus onto something she brings two things I think which are really important... First of all, she has a great sense of humour [and] she is a joyous campaigner...
“She has an ability to transmit the sense of excitement and exultation in the campaign which is a unique combination. I must say, I’ve been quite taken by that.”
He expects she could rise to the highest ranks of Labour, saying: “Anything is achievable for Carolyn... [My] instinct is she doesn’t leave a lot of wounded bodies behind her.
“I think what happens is she gets to where she goes by trying to bring people with her rather than trying to, you know, stab them.
“In politics those that as they move build alliances are invariably the ones you need to look out for because there are others whose sole personal ambition is nakedly obvious; these are the ones that often forget that politics is about building coalitions of interest and reaching out to people, and if you can’t do that then your ability to lead is probably not very great...
“I have to say that I think Carolyn represents the right kind of spirit of this place, very much so.”
Mr Duncan Smith said the type of partnership he formed with the Welsh MP is what drives change – and what makes Westminster work.
He said: “The trouble is people outside only ever see Prime Minister’s Questions [but] the truth is parliament basically works like this... You try and make coalitions together to try and get things done...
“When you strike up a good relationship like that you can move mountains.”