Interested readers might like to listen to a, ahem, spirited exchange on the Today programme this morning (8.52) between myself and Peter Oborne of the Spectator. We were debating the proposed deregulation of gambling. Oborne supports it and thinks that concern for its likely effects on the poor is tantamount to denying the poor the delights of casino culture which are enjoyed by the rich. I think this attitude is the worst kind of laisser-faire Toryism which believes the poor can go to hell on a handcart. It is a deeply reactionary, callous approach. The poor have most to lose from epidemic gambling, in poverty, debt, ill health and ruined family life. It will spread public sqalour through our towns and cities and introduce corruption to our town halls, as the Times reported this morning:

'Local authorities across the country are being offered tens of millions of pounds to approve planning applications for Las Vegas-style super casinos, The Times has learnt. Councils have even started demanding a permanent share of the profits from the new ventures, with Manchester City Council asking operators to specify in advance how much money it will receive each year.'

Legal this may be, but in my book it's still bribery. How curious it is that such a retrograde development, which takes us back to the era before the great 19th century remoralisation of Britain, is espoused both by a Conservative who is anything but, and by those who have betrayed the Methodist tradition of the Labour party.

Posted by melanie at October 19, 2004