Tag Archives: Matt Hancock

Richard Wayman, Chief Operating Officer of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), has emphasised that it will take ‘every possible step’ to ensure a safe return for racing before naming a date for resumption. The sport has been suspended since 17 March, however there has been speculation that the sport could restart on 15 May. Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Wayman …

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has publicly defended the decision to allow Cheltenham Festival to take place, reiterating that the government ‘took the right measures at the right time’. Speaking on a phone-in on LBC Radio, Hancock was asked by a Cheltenham resident whether the festival should have taken place and whether the government would be committing to a future inquiry …

Premier League players have joined forces to raise funds for the National Health Service (NHS) during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Players including Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford have come together as part of an initiative called #PlayersTogether which has partnered with NHS Charities Together (NHSCT). A statement from the group said: “Over the course of the last week …

Industry strategic consultancy Regulus Partners examines a week full of regulatory warnings in the Netherlands, further political disruption in the UK, and gaming reform in Ireland. Netherlands: online regulation – orange warning signals? The implementation of the Netherlands Remote Gaming Act faced more parliamentary scrutiny this week, with a theme of questioning from the Justice and Security Committee being ensuring …

Today NHS England and GambleAware significantly expand UK problem gambling support networks, opening the ‘NHS Northern Gambling Service’ facility in Leeds. A key 2019 UK health directive, the problem-gambling support, treatment and research clinic will be run by Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) working in partnership with GamCare networks. The Leeds clinic is the first gambling-support centre to …

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced plans to address compulsive gambling as part of a £20.5bn NHS shake-up. The proposed treatment centres will provide access to mental health services for the 500,000 adults and young people with gambling problems. There is currently only one clinic that specialises in treatment for compulsive gamblers in the UK, which is insufficient for …

Regulus Partners, the strategic consultancy focused on international gambling and related industries, takes a look at some key developments for the gambling industry in its ‘Winning Post’ column. UK: Regulation – Where’s the Harm? The publication this week of Britain’s first reporting framework for gambling-related harm offered a glimpse of future public policy debates – and set out a number …

After 24 hours of turmoil in the Conservative Party, a Cabinet reshuffle saw the former Attorney General, Jeremy Wright appointed to the role of Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The MP for Kenilworth and Southam replaced Matt Hancock in the role, who departed to take over as Health Secretary, after Jeremy Hunt took over as …

As the late Madam Cyn might have attested, some MPs seem to gain odd pleasure from the sensation of pain. Indeed, the lexicon of British politics is littered with masochistic references – where else might it be acceptable to be ‘whipped’ on a regular basis, for Parliament to be ‘hung’ or to risk an encounter with the ‘Black Rod’? So …

The Times has this morning reported, that the UK government will delay its implementation of an industry-wide £2 FOBT machine stake reduction until April 2020, citing that the UK Treasury has struck a ‘backroom deal’ with betting leadership. Last May, UK Culture Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the government’s decision to reduce FOBTs wagering levels to £2 limit, stating that the …