John Whittingdale Leaves DCMS
John Whittingdale, the minister in charge of gambling and lotteries, has stepped down from his position in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, as part of the prime minister’s cabinet reshuffle. Whittingdale was also responsible for leading the ongoing Gambling Act Review. It has been reported that he will be replaced by MP Julia Lopez.
It has been reported that Julia Lopez will step up as the department’s new Minister of State for Media and Data. ©Naveen Annam/Pexels
Lopez to Take Over
Conservative MP John Whittingdale has stood down from his post as Minister of State for Media and Data at the DCMS, as part of the prime minister’s wide-ranging reshuffle. Whittingdale, who has served as the MP for Maldon since 1992, was in charge of gambling, lotteries and racing as part of his department role.
Whittingdale had held the role of media and data minister since February 14, 2020. It appears that the minister has been sacked, as he has not been given another post in the cabinet. Another long-serving cabinet member, former schools minister Nick Gibb, has also lost his job. Whittingdale confirmed his departure on Twitter, stating:
“I am sorry to be stepping down as Minister for Media and Data and saying goodbye to a great team of ministers and officials. It has been a privilege to play a part in shaping the future of UK public service broadcasting and in reforming our data laws using our new Brexit freedom.”
Taking over from Whittingdale will be Julia Lopez, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster since 2017. Before being elected as an MP, Lopez served as a local councilor on the Tower Hamlets London Borough Council. Prior to the appointment, she was Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office.
In her new post, Lopez will take on a range of responsibilities in policy areas including, media, data, future relations with the EU, international strategy, public appointments and National Archives. She will also be in charge of overseeing the pandemic recovery of the culture, sports and arts sector.
Lopez’ predecessor, John Whittingdale, had been in charge of overseeing the government’s Gambling Act Review, which seeks to update the UK’s gambling laws. It is not yet clear whether Lopez will take over that responsibility, as departmental responsibilities have yet to be finalized. In the past, sports and tourism minister Nigel Huddleston managed gambling and racing.
Gambling Review Ongoing
The 2005 Gambling Act paved the way for the expansion of the UK’s gambling industry, allowing it to flourish into what it is today. Brought in by former Labour prime minister, Tony Blair, the act radically liberalized the UK’s gambling laws. However, more than fifteen years have passed since the act was written, and it is now considered out of date.
Ministers are keen to modernize legislation and make it fit for the digital age. The review was launched last December and is expected to draw to a close with the publication of a White Paper before the end of the year. When published, the review could pose some serious ramifications for the industry, which is still recovering from pandemic losses.
Issues under discussion include affordability checks, deposit limits, new design rules and limits on advertising. It has also been reported that the prime minister would back a ban on gambling operators sponsoring football club shirts.
The government is facing pressure from campaigners and MPs to make gambling safer and reign in the industry. However, the Betting and Gaming Council has warned that if the government is too heavy-handed in imposing restrictions on licensed gambling operators, black market operators could take advantage.
Whittingdale had been seen by some industry insiders as a safe pair of hands, sympathetic with the interests of the sector. Campaigners, on the other hand, had criticized his appointment, based on his previous voting record on betting and gaming issues. In 2014, he voted against granting local governments extra powers to regulate bookmakers and fixed odds betting terminals.
The minister has also been vocal in his support of offering FOBTs at amusement arcades and motorway services. A new leader at the helm of the review could pose some anxiety for operators, that are worried that the government will overstep its usual “tough but fair” stance.
New Culture Secretary
During his time as Media and Data Minister, Whittingdale also had to deal with the collapse of Football Index, a sports betting platform modeled on the stock market. The government launched an independent review into the crash, which was estimated to have cost customers as much as £90 million.
Whittingdale previously served as Culture secretary from May 2015 until July 2016. Johnson’s latest cabinet reshuffle has also seen the appointment of a new Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Oliver Dowden has been replaced by Nadine Dorries, after eighteen months in the role.
Dowden has been promoted to co-chairman of the Conservative Party, and now serves as a Minister without Portfolio. Nadine Dorries takes over as culture secretary, and will be overseeing the government’s Gambling Act Review, amongst wider responsibilities. The BGC, which represents the UK’s casinos, betting shops and online operators, has welcomed the new culture secretary:
“On behalf of the 119,000 people whose jobs are supported by our members – from the high street to hospitality, from tourism to tech – I’d like to congratulate Nadine Dorries on her well-deserved promotion as Secretary of State for DCMS.”
Michael Dugher, who leads the BGC, took the opportunity to highlight the value that the gambling industry will have in contributing to the country’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The sector generates £4.5 billion in taxes for the Treasury, as well as raising £7.7 billion for the economy in gross value added.
While clarification on who will take over the review is still being awaited, Dugher has urged ministers to make sure that it is evidence-led. A former Labour MP and cabinet member himself, Dugher took the opportunity to wish Whittingdale well, thanking him for his willingness to engage with the industry. He also thanked Dowden for his support for the sector, especially during the coronavirus lockdowns.
