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City 'still confident' of casino | City 'still confident' of casino |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Political leaders in Manchester remain confident of hosting the UK's first super-casino - despite the House of Lords rejecting the plans. | Political leaders in Manchester remain confident of hosting the UK's first super-casino - despite the House of Lords rejecting the plans. |
Sir Richard Leese, the Labour leader of Manchester City Council, said the fact it had been backed by the House of Commons represented a "half-victory". | |
"It's certainly not an end to this project," he told the BBC. | |
In Blackpool, which was the favourite, the vote was seen as another chance for the resort to state its case. | In Blackpool, which was the favourite, the vote was seen as another chance for the resort to state its case. |
The vote by peers, rejecting the Gambling Order backing Manchester by 123 votes to 120, meant the proposals will not be implemented, despite MPs backing them by 274 to 250. | |
It's certainly not an end to this project Sir Richard Leese | It's certainly not an end to this project Sir Richard Leese |
Manchester was picked earlier this year by an independent panel ahead of the front-runners Blackpool and the former Millennium Dome in London. | Manchester was picked earlier this year by an independent panel ahead of the front-runners Blackpool and the former Millennium Dome in London. |
The Sportscity site in east Manchester was deemed to fulfil more of the regeneration criteria set out for the Casino Advisory Panel. | The Sportscity site in east Manchester was deemed to fulfil more of the regeneration criteria set out for the Casino Advisory Panel. |
Sir Richard said he was very disappointed with the House of Lords but that he expected the elected chamber to hold sway. | Sir Richard said he was very disappointed with the House of Lords but that he expected the elected chamber to hold sway. |
He told the BBC: "We had a clear majority in the elected chamber. In the House of Commons MPs have made it quite clear that they want this to go ahead. | |
"I'm now confident that by working with ministers, working with the House of Commons, we can make sure this is delivered." | "I'm now confident that by working with ministers, working with the House of Commons, we can make sure this is delivered." |
Decision 'outrageous' | Decision 'outrageous' |
The chief executive of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Angie Robinson, called the ruling "absolutely outrageous". | The chief executive of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Angie Robinson, called the ruling "absolutely outrageous". |
"The decision is a major blow for the East Manchester area as the super-casino would have brought much-needed jobs and investment to one of the most deprived areas in the country," she said. | "The decision is a major blow for the East Manchester area as the super-casino would have brought much-needed jobs and investment to one of the most deprived areas in the country," she said. |
But the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, said he welcomed the opportunity to "examine the sort of regeneration east Manchester deserves". | But the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, said he welcomed the opportunity to "examine the sort of regeneration east Manchester deserves". |
This level of support reinforces our position that Blackpool is the right and best place for a regional casino Alan Cavil, Blackpool Council | This level of support reinforces our position that Blackpool is the right and best place for a regional casino Alan Cavil, Blackpool Council |
"In the past decade Manchester has successfully regenerated whole sections of the city without resorting to the empty promises of a super-casino," he added. | "In the past decade Manchester has successfully regenerated whole sections of the city without resorting to the empty promises of a super-casino," he added. |
Some critics of the panel argued that Blackpool was a more suitable venue, with greater need for a super-casino. | Some critics of the panel argued that Blackpool was a more suitable venue, with greater need for a super-casino. |
Gordon Marsden, MP for Blackpool South, was one of 18 Labour rebels who voted against the government on Wednesday night. | Gordon Marsden, MP for Blackpool South, was one of 18 Labour rebels who voted against the government on Wednesday night. |
"I'm not entirely surprised the House of Lords threw it out and I'm not surprised that the majority in the commons was slashed," he said. | "I'm not entirely surprised the House of Lords threw it out and I'm not surprised that the majority in the commons was slashed," he said. |
He said there was "great support and warmth" for Blackpool's bid. | He said there was "great support and warmth" for Blackpool's bid. |
"Hopefully what we now can do is look at what the government is now proposing to do which is to set up a new joint scrutiny committee." | "Hopefully what we now can do is look at what the government is now proposing to do which is to set up a new joint scrutiny committee." |
In Blackpool, council chiefs welcomed the Lords vote as "potentially good news" and another chance for the resort to put forward its case. | In Blackpool, council chiefs welcomed the Lords vote as "potentially good news" and another chance for the resort to put forward its case. |
"This level of support reinforces our position that Blackpool is the right and best place for a regional casino," said Alan Cavil, the authority's head of Corporate Policy and Development. | "This level of support reinforces our position that Blackpool is the right and best place for a regional casino," said Alan Cavil, the authority's head of Corporate Policy and Development. |
"We would want to take this opportunity to explain that our concerns have been in respect of the process and that we have absolutely nothing against any other location involved." | "We would want to take this opportunity to explain that our concerns have been in respect of the process and that we have absolutely nothing against any other location involved." |