Casinos.co.uk: Casino News Archive
Tuesday 27th March 2007
Labour rebels have Tessa by the jowls
Westminster sources have said that Tessa Jowell has desperately been trying to buy off rebel ministers before a crucial Commons vote over casino licences on Wednesday.
Some Labour MPs have turned turncoat after the supercasino licence was granted to Manchester instead of Blackpool, with 80 Labour backbenchers signing a motion expressing "regret" at the decision.
Ms Jowell is now trying to persuade the vengeful rebels not to vote against a bill giving local authorities the power to issue licences for 17 casinos in the UK.
The culture secretary promised MPs that Blackpool would follow after Manchester had its supercasino, sources told the thisislondon website. Insiders at Westminster also claim that Ms Jowell offered to put money towards regenerating Blackpool in closed meetings.
A source said: "Tessa is sitting there like a rabbit caught in the headlights saying anything to buy off the rebels. But it remains to be seen whether she has done enough."
Only 33 Labour MPs voting against the bill would be enough to floor the proposals for now as Conservative and LibDem MPs are against the plans.
Source:Direct News
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