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Angry Wolverhampton MP Ken Purchase has labelled plans for a new casino in the city as ‘an ultimate insult’.

The Labour veteran hit out at his own Government’s approval for a new ‘gambling den’ and said the city is battling against drug dealers, gangs and prostitution.

Mr Purchase described the plans as “asking for trouble” and said another betting outlet was the last thing Wolverhampton needed.

“It is an ultimate insult to people in Wolverhampton to talk about regeneration on the luck of a game of pitch and toss in a casino,” he raged during an angry tirade in the Commons.

“Indeed it should be outside the Labour lexicon of policies.”

The Wolverhampton North East Labour MP blasted the proposals, which were unveiled by former culture secretary Tessa Jowell under Tony Blair’s government, saying a new gambling centre would be a backward step in the city’s bid for regeneration.

“In Wolverhampton, there are already ample opportunities for gambling with a raft of betting shops, bingo, the racecourse and so on,” he told MPs in the Commons.

“Indeed, we already generate masses of illicit cash through prostitution and drugs.”

His heated comments followed Culture Secretary Andy Burnham’s statement to the Commons on Tuesday, in which he rubberstamped plans for eight small casinos, including one in Wolverhampton, and eight large ones including one at Birmingham NEC in Solihull.Today Mr Purchase, who has been an MP for 15 years and is standing down at the next election, remained resolute in his views.

He told the Express & Star that a casino was the “last thing” that was needed in Wolverhampton in light of its crime and prostitution problems. And he said he was surprised Wolverhampton City Council was backing the Government’s casino pledge.

The 68-year-old said: “In Wolverhampton, like the rest of country, we have problems with drugs and prostitution.

“The police and council are trying to tackle this and I am astonished the council are making these overtures.

“I don’t know anyone in Wolverhampton that wants a casino.

“I have never had a letter or a phone call from someone saying they would like to have another one.

“We are asking for trouble with this. I don’t care if it is well-managed – it is such a desperate occupation.

“We are awash with betting shops in the city and there is no shortage of places where people can gamble. This is the last thing Wolverhampton needs. It is ill-conceived Blairite policy and it should be modified or dropped.”

The city is hotting up to be the gambling capital of the Midlands. It already has one in Thornley Street, Gala Casino, and the £35 million Low Level Station development will feature a casino in the old station building when it opens later this year.

Earlier this month it was revealed developers behind the Interchange project, which will transform the city’s train and bus stations, also include a casino in their plans.

Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Racecourse remains a frontrunner in the bid for the Government’s small casino, with their hopes of creating Europe’s first “racino” at Dunstall Park.

The council’s regeneration chief Councillor Peter Bilson this week welcomed the Government’s announcement but insisted it would not allow the new casino to fuel gambling addiction.

“We have a social responsibility to ensure we are mindful of how people can become addicted to gambling and can find themselves with problems,” he said.

“The rules the Government has imposed on this casino, to do with the number of slot machines and the extent of the payout, will go some way towards that.”

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