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Casino Concessions Fail to Sway Labour Rebels2 November 2004UK -- As reported by The Guardian: "Tony Blair saw his parliamentary majority cut by more than half last night when 29 Labour MPs rebelled against the gambling bill in protest at plans to set up super-casinos throughout Britain. "A series of 11th-hour concessions from the government, including an indication that a cap on the number of new casinos may be introduced, failed to sway the Labour rebels, who cut the government's majority of 159 to 74. "While the number of rebels was not that high, the government's majority was hit because scores of backbenchers abstained. Only 286 Labour MPs, out of a total of 407 who are eligible vote, supported the gambling bill at second reading, with 212 rebels and opposition MPs opposing the measure. "The rebellion against the gambling bill set the scene for a bitter wrangle when the measure is considered line-by-line by MPs at committee stage. Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, offered an olive branch during yesterday's debate by indicating that she may be prepared to cap the number of super-casinos..." |