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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brown ditches super-casino plan | Brown ditches super-casino plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government has dropped plans to build a super-casino in Manchester, the BBC has learned. | The government has dropped plans to build a super-casino in Manchester, the BBC has learned. |
| The initial policy was for 40 super-casinos but this was scaled back first to eight, then to one, in the face of strong opposition. | The initial policy was for 40 super-casinos but this was scaled back first to eight, then to one, in the face of strong opposition. |
| Gordon Brown ordered a review of the plans shortly after he became Prime Minister last year. | Gordon Brown ordered a review of the plans shortly after he became Prime Minister last year. |
| The government's abandonment of the super-casino is confirmed in a letter to the Scottish and Welsh executives. | The government's abandonment of the super-casino is confirmed in a letter to the Scottish and Welsh executives. |
| A formal announcement will be made to parliament in a few weeks. | A formal announcement will be made to parliament in a few weeks. |
| Plans for 16 smaller casinos spread across the UK will still go-ahead. | Plans for 16 smaller casinos spread across the UK will still go-ahead. |
| I have never seen the reason why we should have Blackpool and Manchester pitted against each other... let's do both of them Former Prime Minister Tony Blair | I have never seen the reason why we should have Blackpool and Manchester pitted against each other... let's do both of them Former Prime Minister Tony Blair |
| It was thought the super-casino would attract up to £265m of private investment and create about 3,000 jobs as well as regenerating a run-down area of east Manchester. | It was thought the super-casino would attract up to £265m of private investment and create about 3,000 jobs as well as regenerating a run-down area of east Manchester. |
| But Gordon Brown put the plans on hold and asked Communities Secretary Hazel Blears to carry out a review into other ways to regenerate Manchester. | But Gordon Brown put the plans on hold and asked Communities Secretary Hazel Blears to carry out a review into other ways to regenerate Manchester. |
| Senior councillors in the city have said they would seek a judicial review if plans were dropped. | Senior councillors in the city have said they would seek a judicial review if plans were dropped. |
| Manchester City Council is refusing to comment at this stage, but last year council leader Richard Leese expressed concern at the lack of progress on the casino and requested a visit to Downing Street to talk to Mr Brown. | Manchester City Council is refusing to comment at this stage, but last year council leader Richard Leese expressed concern at the lack of progress on the casino and requested a visit to Downing Street to talk to Mr Brown. |
| At the time he wrote: "I've asked for this meeting with the Prime Minister because there seems to be no progress on our plans to create a Leisure City, anchored by an international destination casino. | At the time he wrote: "I've asked for this meeting with the Prime Minister because there seems to be no progress on our plans to create a Leisure City, anchored by an international destination casino. |
| "Twelve months ago an independent panel recommended that Manchester should be granted permission to licence the only British regional casino following a rigorous inspection and examination process. | "Twelve months ago an independent panel recommended that Manchester should be granted permission to licence the only British regional casino following a rigorous inspection and examination process. |
| "But the project has been stalled by controversy including sour losers, inaccurate information, a vote in the unelected House of Lords and then a Government review." | "But the project has been stalled by controversy including sour losers, inaccurate information, a vote in the unelected House of Lords and then a Government review." |
| 'Flip-flop tactics' | |
| The Department for Culture, Media and Sport insisted that no final decision had been taken on the super-casino and said the letters were a required part of the consultation process. | |
| "We are statutorily required to write to Scottish and Welsh ministers to consult before making a decision how to proceed," a spokeswoman said. | |
| "No final decision has been made," she added, saying it would be done "as soon as possible" | |
| The Liberal Democrats said government policy on the issue was in disarray. | |
| The Conservatives said the government's "flip-flops had left the city's regeneration plans in tatters". | |
| Both Blackpool and Manchester were in the running for the super-casino in the north west. | Both Blackpool and Manchester were in the running for the super-casino in the north west. |
| It was seen as a lifeline for the ailing Lancashire seaside town as well as a chance to revive a run down part of Manchester. | It was seen as a lifeline for the ailing Lancashire seaside town as well as a chance to revive a run down part of Manchester. |
| The then Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "Personally I have never seen the reason why we should have Blackpool and Manchester pitted against each other. | |
| "If the investment is there and able to be done, let's do both of them." | "If the investment is there and able to be done, let's do both of them." |
| He claimed in the House of Commons that only Conservative intervention in the Lords had jeopardised the Manchester casino, whereas Labour's original plan would have allowed super-casinos at both Manchester and Blackpool. | He claimed in the House of Commons that only Conservative intervention in the Lords had jeopardised the Manchester casino, whereas Labour's original plan would have allowed super-casinos at both Manchester and Blackpool. |