BHA chairman expects continuity as Jeremy Wright takes over from Hancock

BHA chairman Steve Harman said he expected there to be continuity in the way government treated British racing despite the news that Matt Hancock is departing the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to become the new health secretary.

The former culture secretary, whose brief included horseracing, succeeds Jeremy Hunt at the health department, with Hunt taking over from Boris Johnson after his resignation as foreign secretary on Monday.

Jeremy Wright has been appointed as Hancock's successor. The MP for Kenilworth and Southam, 45, had been attorney general for the last four years.

Hancock, who has been one of the sport's staunchest supporters in parliament and whose West Suffolk constituency includes Newmarket, was appointed culture secretary only in January.

Matt Hancock: leaving to take over from Jeremy Hunt as health secretaryCredit: Peter Nicholls

While the bulk of levy reform was completed before Hancock took the job, he had said government would look to widen the levy still further to include money bet on foreign racing to help mitigate the potential loss to racing's income caused by the government's decision to cut FOBT maximum stakes to £2.

He had also said he would work with racing on the critical issue of staffing.

Harman said: "I think one of the things Matt Hancock and [sports minister] Tracey Crouch have made clear is that continuity is critical, and that is seen not just in DCMS but across Westminster. It has also been made clear to me recently that that continuity will be maintained.

"I think everybody thought there was going to be some change at some time and I think there will be a very good handover because we have two highly professional ministers here.

"Don't underestimate how many people are helping racing's cause politically. Racing has a lot of supporters."

BHA chairman Steve Harman paid tribute to Matt HancockCredit: Edward Whitaker

Harman said Hancock would always be a friend to racing and paid tribute to the work the minister had done, adding: "He puts the grassroots first and is totally committed to key priorities such as welfare, staffing, regional and rural growth, the future of Newmarket, and indeed further levy development.

"Jeremy Wright comes with a great reputation and we very much look forward to working with him in the future."

The DCMS not only has responsibility for racing but also gambling. Hancock’s department carried out the consultation on the government's gambling review that led to a reduction in FOBT maximum stakes to £2 from £100. Betting shop operators have claimed that will lead to thousands of closures.

The Association of British Bookmakers said it looked forward to working with Wright "to ensure a sustainable and responsible retail betting industry".

It added: "Betting shops are facing a massive threat as the new maximum stake on gaming machines will result in thousands of shop closures, job losses and significant economic consequences for horse and greyhound racing.

"It is vital that we work with the secretary of state and his department to mitigate these impacts where possible and ensure betting shops remain one of the safest environments in which to gamble in the UK."

Wright has not made any public comment on gambling, and Remote Gambling Association chief executive Clive Hawkswood said he was "something of an unknown quantity".

He added: "Hopefully he will come at the subject without any preconceived ideas. However, I think the wider industry now needs a period of stability following the protracted debate around FOBTs and the Triennial review process, so it would be nice to think he will have other priorities."

Jeremy Wright's in-tray

• Complete the reform of the levy through parliament that will abolish the Levy Board and bring in a new Racing Authority to take over its spending role.
• Deal with racing's expectations that government will widen the levy net to include bets placed on foreign racing.
• Help racing find a solution to the sport's staffing crisis, a project announced by his predecessor at Cheltenham in March.
• Bring to a conclusion the government's decision to reduce the maximum stakes on FOBTs to £2 while facing criticism of the time that is taking.
• Deal with other gambling-related issues such as criticism of online gambling and the prevalence of gambling advertising.

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