Theresa May facing rebellion over betting machines delay
The Prime Minister is facing a potential revolt over the Government's refusal to speed up plans to curb the use of fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs).
Labour deputy leader Tom Watson says Labour will give its 'full support' to a potential rebel amendment to the Finance Bill, which would seek to pressure ministers to bring forward the changes to the maximum stake.
It comes after sports minister Tracey Crouch resigned in protest over the 'unjustified' delay on plans to cut the maximum stakes on FOBTs from £100 to £2, which was laid out in the Budget on Monday.
The legislation was due to come in by April next year but has been put back to October, a move which Ms Crouch said could lead hundreds of additional problem gamblers to be driven to suicide.
Mr Watson, the West Bromwich East MP and shadow culture secretary, said: "This issue is not over. There is very great concern from all sides of the House, including the Conservatives, the DUP, Lib Dems and Labour, to make the Government adhere to the commitment they made in May.
"This means that if the amendment to the Finance Bill is moved by senior Conservatives like Iain Duncan Smith, it will have our full support."
More than 30 Conservative MPs are understood to be considering a rebellion, which would place Theresa May at risk of a humiliating defeat in the Commons.
Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston, who chairs the Commons Health Committee, said that cutting the maximum stake was a 'sensible and basic measure'. She said there was considerable anger over the delay among Conservative MPs.
