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Harriet Harman apologies for relaxing gambling laws.

By New Statesman Published 06 August 2012 7:22

Labour Party deputy leader Harriet Harman. Photograph: Getty Images.

If we had known then what we know now, we wouldn't have allowed this, because it's not just ruining the high street, it's ruining people's lives.

Harriet Harman admits that Labour was wrong to liberalise gambling laws.

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Tags: Harriet Harman Labour

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6 comments

Mon, 2012-08-06 15:20 — Robert Wilkin (not verified)

I was unable at the time to find a single person who thought this was a good idea. But, as with so much, New Labour thought they knew better. How many lives have they spoilt?

Mon, 2012-08-06 13:04 — Robert Taggart

This be the least Ms Dromey has to apologise for !

Mon, 2012-08-06 10:40 — Dark Heart of Toryland (not verified)

What next? An apology from New Labour for their neoliberal economic policies? Or maybe, perhaps, for Iraq?

Mon, 2012-08-06 09:03 — Red Rain (not verified)

The gambling culture infects us all. It is based on the hope of getting something for nothing and the belief that, for a fortunate few, there are easy pickings - which are garnered by winners at the expense of the poor saps who loose. That ethos has seeped out into the whole of society. And look where it has got us. There is official confirmation that bookmaking and banking overlap. The Financial Services Agency regulates spread betting. The complaint that our banks have been run like casinos is not a metaphor. Their greedy and incompetent directors gambled with our money and lost. Roy Hattersley.....

Mon, 2012-08-06 08:47 — Marcus Bessner (not verified)

Yes but she didn't say how the relaxation came about. It was Tony Blair who announced the proposed and later rejected Super Casino at Manchester . The suggestion came out of the blue but later transpired that it was to be run by South African Gambling Mogul Sol Kerzner - briber of Transkei Prime Ministers - and self confessed perjurer - notorious giver of backhanders to Prime Ministers in Apartheid South Africa. Was that how Tony got his mysterious millions. ? It would be well to remember that John Prescott was also involved - he had meetings in America with a billionaire front man who later withdrew after a successful campaign against the project by the London Evening Standard. He is now trying to become a police commissioner. Cave Canem.