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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Super-casino axe is 'confirmed' | Super-casino axe is 'confirmed' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Plans for a giant super-casino in Manchester have been scrapped but ministers will go ahead with proposals for 16 large regional casinos. | Plans for a giant super-casino in Manchester have been scrapped but ministers will go ahead with proposals for 16 large regional casinos. |
| The BBC has learned that the decision is to be announced in a statement to the Commons after the half-term recess. | The BBC has learned that the decision is to be announced in a statement to the Commons after the half-term recess. |
| Gordon Brown ordered a review of the plans shortly after becoming PM, and a rethink has been confirmed in a letter to Scottish and Welsh executives. | Gordon Brown ordered a review of the plans shortly after becoming PM, and a rethink has been confirmed in a letter to Scottish and Welsh executives. |
| Manchester City Council says it will "not comment on a leak". | Manchester City Council says it will "not comment on a leak". |
| However, its officials have warned in the past they would legally challenge any u-turn. | However, its officials have warned in the past they would legally challenge any u-turn. |
| Concern | Concern |
| The city was a surprise winner when it was chosen as the location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino. | The city was a surprise winner when it was chosen as the location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino. |
| It was named the preferred site in January 2007 at the expense of Blackpool, whose supporters said it would benefit more. | It was named the preferred site in January 2007 at the expense of Blackpool, whose supporters said it would benefit more. |
| There's going to be some bitter disappointment in Manchester where campaigners had hoped this would bring thousands of jobs to the area Carole WalkerBBC political correspondent | There's going to be some bitter disappointment in Manchester where campaigners had hoped this would bring thousands of jobs to the area Carole WalkerBBC political correspondent |
| But in March that year, peers rejected the plan by just three votes, after MPs had backed it by a majority of 24. | But in March that year, peers rejected the plan by just three votes, after MPs had backed it by a majority of 24. |
| The scheme was then put in doubt when Gordon Brown asked Communities Secretary Hazel Blears to carry out a review into other ways to regenerate Manchester. | The scheme was then put in doubt when Gordon Brown asked Communities Secretary Hazel Blears to carry out a review into other ways to regenerate Manchester. |
| That prompted concern from senior officials in the city who claimed the team behind the review had not even visited the proposed site of the super-casino in Beswick. | That prompted concern from senior officials in the city who claimed the team behind the review had not even visited the proposed site of the super-casino in Beswick. |
| The policy had been backed by former prime minister Tony Blair, who said in May that he thought both Manchester and Blackpool should get super-casinos, if there was sufficient investment. | The policy had been backed by former prime minister Tony Blair, who said in May that he thought both Manchester and Blackpool should get super-casinos, if there was sufficient investment. |
| Opposing views | Opposing views |
| However, the decision to take the super-casino away from Manchester will effectively be seen as Mr Brown tearing up Mr Blair's plans. | However, the decision to take the super-casino away from Manchester will effectively be seen as Mr Brown tearing up Mr Blair's plans. |
| LARGE CASINOS Great YarmouthHullLeedsMiddlesbroughMilton KeynesNewhamSolihullSouthampton Q&A: What is a super-casino? | LARGE CASINOS Great YarmouthHullLeedsMiddlesbroughMilton KeynesNewhamSolihullSouthampton Q&A: What is a super-casino? |
| BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said: "Tony Blair was very keen on the idea of a super-casino to regenerate run down areas. | BBC political correspondent Carole Walker said: "Tony Blair was very keen on the idea of a super-casino to regenerate run down areas. |
| "Gordon Brown made it plain when he took over as prime minister he didn't share that view. | "Gordon Brown made it plain when he took over as prime minister he didn't share that view. |
| "I think there's going to be some bitter disappointment in Manchester where campaigners had hoped this would bring thousands of jobs to the area and regenerate a rundown part of the city." | "I think there's going to be some bitter disappointment in Manchester where campaigners had hoped this would bring thousands of jobs to the area and regenerate a rundown part of the city." |
| SMALL CASINOS Bath and North East SomersetDumfries and GallowayEast Lindsey LutonScarboroughSwanseaTorbayWolverhampton | SMALL CASINOS Bath and North East SomersetDumfries and GallowayEast Lindsey LutonScarboroughSwanseaTorbayWolverhampton |
| The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) insists there is still no decision on the super-casino at this time. | |
| "There is a statutory requirement for the secretary of state to consult Scottish and Welsh ministers before making a decision how to proceed," a spokesman said. | "There is a statutory requirement for the secretary of state to consult Scottish and Welsh ministers before making a decision how to proceed," a spokesman said. |
| "No final decision will be taken until ministers have had the opportunity to consider the views of Scottish and Welsh ministers." | "No final decision will be taken until ministers have had the opportunity to consider the views of Scottish and Welsh ministers." |
| But Tory shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The government's flip-flops on this have left Manchester's regeneration plans in tatters and the gambling industry in turmoil. Is the government for casinos or against them? | But Tory shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "The government's flip-flops on this have left Manchester's regeneration plans in tatters and the gambling industry in turmoil. Is the government for casinos or against them? |
| "No-one is left any the wiser by this news. More importantly they have totally failed to address the most critical question, namely how to tackle the rise in problem gambling." | "No-one is left any the wiser by this news. More importantly they have totally failed to address the most critical question, namely how to tackle the rise in problem gambling." |
| 'Change of heart' letter | 'Change of heart' letter |
| Don Foster, the Lib Dems culture spokesman, said this showed the government's casino policy was "in disarray". | Don Foster, the Lib Dems culture spokesman, said this showed the government's casino policy was "in disarray". |
| "Both opposition parties had concerns about the super-casino, but were happy to see the eight small and large casinos go ahead," he said. | "Both opposition parties had concerns about the super-casino, but were happy to see the eight small and large casinos go ahead," he said. |
| "Why did it take such a delay and a further review for the government to concede we were right?" | "Why did it take such a delay and a further review for the government to concede we were right?" |
| A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We have received notification from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport of the intention to proceed with eight large and eight small casinos." | |
| He said the 16 local authorities involved across the UK had been notified, but he had no information on the proposed Manchester super-casino. | |
| "The letter merely pointed out that they decided to proceed with the eight large and eight small casinos," he said. | |
| A Welsh Assembly spokesman said: "We have received a letter but we cannot disclose the contents of the letter without the permission of the DCMS." |