MANCHESTER has vowed to fight on for its super casino after the House of Lords threatened to wreck the plan in a shock rebellion.
Just minutes before MPs voted by 274 to 250 to support the city, and smaller casinos in 16 other places around Britain, peers rejected the package by a majority of just three.
The dramatic scenes followed a day of arm-twisting by culture secretary Tessa Jowell, who had attempted to woo rebels with the promise of a committee to discuss the next phase of super casinos – with the implied promise Blackpool would be next in line.
That seemed to have worked in the House of Commons, where the Conservatives had pledged to try to block the plans and 83 Labour MPs had signed an early day motion expressing “surprise and regret” that Manchester was chosen ahead of Blackpool. In the end only 18 Labour backbenchers rebelled and the government’s majority – 24 – was far larger than expected.
Confusion
But the Lords threw the situation into confusion by backing a rebel amendment calling for the vote on the site of the super casino to be split up from the vote on the 16 smaller casinos.
That could have a catastrophic effect on Manchester since it was the “bundling” of all 17 sites that kept many would-be Labour rebels in line. And since the package was a “statutory instrument”, and not a law, the Commons cannot simply override the upper chamber.
MPs supporting the Manchester bid – which would create more than 2,500 jobs in the city’s deprived eastern wards – suggested the Government could reintroduce the same order with the same meaning, but a slightly different wording, in the upper chamber.
Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central, said: “This was a good day for Manchester, if not yet a great day.
“The Government has to go away and reflect but I don’t think they can accept being overruled by the unelected house, by such a narrow majority.”
Richard Caborn, sports minister in the
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
(DCMS), pointed out that the vote was carried by a “substantial majority” in the Commons.
“The House of Lords has decided not to carry it and we have to reflect on that, and look at what the Lords were saying, what their concerns were, and whether we can meet those concerns,” he said.
Mr Caborn insisted the Government had been right to refuse to allow separate votes on the supercasino and the 16 smaller casinos.
“This was a pilot of 17 casinos,” he said. “It was not an a la carte menu.”
Elected
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester city council, said: “We won the vote in the more important place.
“Tessa Jowell has said she will reflect on this but since there is a clear will of the House of Commons I would expect that to hold sway before too long. I don’t think the Government will be willing to walk away from the decision of the elected chamber.”
But a spokesman for the DCMS warned late last night: “As Tessa Jowell said, there was no plan B. We will have to go away and look at this.”
Westminster sources warned last night that any attempt to resurrect Manchester’s bid in the Lords could yet be scuppered by Gordon Brown. The chancellor, expected to become prime minister later this year, is said to be less than keen on a “gambling explosion” and may now take a negative view of plans for all 17 casinos.
It is believed to be only the third time since the second world war that the Lords has blocked a statutory instrument supported by the Commons. The first was in 1968 over sanctions in Rhodesia, and the second over Ken Livingstone’s candidacy for the mayorship of London.
See Thursday's editions of the M.E.N for more analysis and reports.
What do you think of the shock vote? Have your say below.
Comments
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Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Now you know what it's like to be kicked in the teeth. Serves you right Manchester for slagging of Blackpool all the time.
I was not particularly supportive of the Supercasino but I do appreciate the jobs it would have brought to the area but to me, the House of Lords is an affront to democracy. A bunch of silver spoon buffoons who should not be allowed to vote on bills, just because they were cronies of the various Prime Ministers or because they were born into landed gentry. Lord Archer - need I say more ? It was passed in the Commons which is right as they are elected members but the House of Lords is a joke and a serious overhaul is overdue.
That just about sums up the shambles of democracy in this country where the will of an independent panel and the democratically elected chamber of the UK can be overturned by some unelected toffs.
Tessa Jowell should still push ahead with Manchester getting the super-casino. There's no reason why Manchester shouldn't get it.
As for the Tories and LibDems who voted against this - they are an absolute disgrace and I hope no Mancunian votes for them at the next election.
Can't say I'm disturbed. Couldn't care less.
Usual level of scenility from a bunch of 90 year olds who still think blackpool is stuck in the 1950's and have romantic memories of the lights, the reality is far different as we know. I hope they go there one day and see what has happened to this once shining example of Britishness, where has all the money gone? No worries it'll still come to Manchester plans are too far down the line.
Well we all know who stabbed Manchester in the back don't we?
David Cameron (Manchester's supposedly new friend) and his Tory Lords - that's who!
His party were backing Manchester, until a few days ago!
Well the new Tory leader has just cost Manchester 2500 new jobs and I hope the M.E.N splatter his picture on their front page tomorrow - to let him know who we "exactly blame" for this jobs blow!
I totally support the House of Lords in all this...Its just a shame they dont get so active about 1.The Iraq War 2.Anything else...But nice to know they still hold the sway..
Fantastic!!!!! the house of Lords has put a spanner in the works of the super casino plans.
Who said common sense was dead.
Stick that in your pipe Richard Leese and cronies who turned east Manchester into a wasteland in the firstplace and brought us other super things like the Hulme cresents and fort Ardwick.
If we can just get the Lords to vote on the Toll tax next.
Like they said on Mock the Week if they combined a prison with the super casino then people could lose all their money and go straight to jail.
I still don't understand why this country NEEDS a SuperCasino.... there are far too many people addicted to gambling in its' many shapes and forms as it is -- why tempt them with yet more outlets?
But on the basis that it's going to happen, then (much as I don't personally want it in Manchester) I fail to see how the Commons and/or Lords can overturn a selection made by what I understood to be a commitee THEY appointed to look at all the tenders and make the choice!!!
Correct result - let's hope the proposed Toll Tax also follows the Supercasino down the swanee!
I'm not sure who this casino benefits. Manchester has more than its fair share of people with debt problems, won't this just add to that? A slot machine can make 45,000 pounds a year. Casinos are big money for the casino owner, that's a certainty not a probability. Can MEN do a vote for the people of Manchester -how many people in Manchester actually want this?
We are preaching around the world what a great democracy we are and then we allow an unelected bunch of 90 year olds who don't know what day it is to contradict what elected members of parliment decide. What a joke.
Paul L.-Manchester has no need to bad-mouth Blackpool. Anyone who spends more than 5 minutes in the town quickly realises that Blackpool does it all by itself!
It makes me laugh that the propaganda machine spews the 2500 jobs line over and over. What they really mean is we need somewhere to put the quota of Eastern Bloc immigrants we've signed up for and we need jobs for them after we have given them their settlement ?1000's so east manchester fits the bill perfectly.
I, for one, am glad the Lords voted it down and hope it doesn't come up again. Gambling attracts crime and leads to poverty, and Manchester already has enough of that. There are better ways to provide proper jobs with proper training - not the unskilled, poorly paid ones that go with casinos. This was never about regeneration - it was about easy money for the treasury. This promise of "regeneration" is as fake as a gambler's dream of winning - don't get hooked on it.
brom
At last somebody who hit the nail on the head? Who messed east manchester up in the first place MCC and who allowed manchester to go into dereliction?MCC, because they refused to invest in industry and housing in the 1960/7o/80s they built useless housing that had to be demolished before they were paid for?what a waste.Come on (Sir) richard tell the ratepayers why MCC built homes ect and had to demolish them within a few years?
1. The only reason anyone is even thinking of a supercasino is because this government would do anything to increase tax revenue. 2. Manchester doesn't need this. We have enough gambling and crime issues. 3. The house of lords may be a bunch of rich old farts, but they have a big advantage- they don't care what the government of the day thinks, so they dont vote for something just because they are scared of blair and co. The idea of getting rid of the house of lords sounds great, except a large majority government such as this one then gets to railroad in any legislation they like! Wake up people!
The reasons for Manchester getting the Casino originally came from an excuse of bringing jobs to the Area ¿ this is a load of rubbish ¿ I work in Manchester and I really do like the place and the people, but we cant get people to fill the jobs that are there now ¿ I travel there everyday quite a number of miles by train and I have a Manchester postcode - People in east Manchester could walk there for a job compared to my situation ¿ so quite a strange decision. No one around Manchester knew they were even bidding, when they got it it was embarrassing there wasn¿t even a soul waiting for the media when the announcement was made and they hurriedly got a couple of people together (it felt similar to Man utd getting 10 mins extra time and spot kick goal when they were losing or drawing). To be honest, most people said that the situation just stinks. The Blackpool bid and talk has been on local/national news every few months for years and was a serious bid whereas the Manchester one wasn¿t. I hope that now the House of Lord has rejected it this is rethought and correct decision made. Manchester has had the most regeneration in the North West for years and its now time for other areas. I imagine now people in Manchester will get upset at the decision now - even though you didn¿t know about it three months ago think you should have it and deserve it ¿ well if this is the case its because you thought you had something you didn¿t know about and now its been took away - but if you do then have a good think to yourself about how you felt before the announcement and if you even knew you were up for it!! and if you didn¿t then you don¿t really have a right to jump on the bandwagon (oh and as for the person who stated bring on the diamonds and suits ¿ you have obviously never really been to a casino)..
After last week's disaterous budget announcement with regards to Casinos (there was an increase in casino gaming duty, increasing the top rate of tax by 50%) I would be surprised if anyone would want to invest in UK casinos anymore. The loss in the lords yesterday will not only mean that 2000-odd jobs will not be created but may also mean that existing casino jobs will be under threat as the budget annoucement was thought to be a necessary (if expensive) side effect of getting larger more cost effective casinos.
Also all those who believe casinos to be mass money making organisations are mistaken. I used to work in a casino and just because you see loads of chips being won by the club does not mean that the money is going to the casino, lots of it goes to the tax man and on overheads.
BEST THING THAT COULD OF HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!
WHATS UP,DID SOMEONE NOT GET ENOUGH OF A BACKHANDER OUT OF IT BEING IN MANCHESTER.
Personally I don't want to see a supercasino in Manchester, Blackpool or anywhere else for that matter. I think that any economic benefit and job creation will be more than out-weighed by the increased social depravation caused by problem gamblers. I understand that similar casinos in America have also attracted associated cultures of increased drug use and crime. I would like to see the money invested in a different industry which would provide jobs for local people but without the massive associated social cost of a casino.
It is outrageous that, after ten years of a Labour government, an unelected bunch of scroungers in the Lords can thwart the will of the democratically-elected Commons. There should be no more handouts for these relics of feudal times, they should be turfed out onto the street.
Manchester will get it in the end. In fact, put a bet on it.