Nick Rust welcomes 'excellent supporter' Nigel Adams as new sports minister

BHA chief executive Nick Rust has welcomed “an excellent supporter of horseracing” after Nigel Adams was appointed sports minister following a radical reshuffle by new prime minister Boris Johnson.

Rust also reacted to Johnson’s comments on animal welfare in a speech outside 10 Downing Street, emphasising the lengths British racing went to look after its equine participants.

Adams, a racing fan, succeeds Mims Davies as sports minister and is the third person to hold that position in the last nine months. His constituency of Selby and Ainsty in Yorkshire means he is also Rust's local MP.

Nicky Morgan takes over from Jeremy Wright as secretary of state at the Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) which has responsibility for both racing and the gambling industry.

Nigel Adams: appointed sports minister

Rust said on Friday: "I am delighted to see the appointment of Nigel Adams, an excellent supporter of horseracing in the House of Commons, as minister for digital and sport. We look forward to working with Nigel, and Nicky Morgan as secretary of state, in helping British racing to thrive as part of the fabric of Great Britain’s heritage, as a key rural employer throughout all regions of the country, and as Britain’s second largest sport.

"Brexit provides undoubted challenges yet also an opportunity to ensure that British racing can operate on a level playing field with our major European rivals. DCMS can play an important role in helping to deliver that level playing field through ensuring a truly sustainable and internationally competitive return from betting activity."

A number of other supporters of racing have retained a cabinet place or been promoted in Johnson's reshuffle including Matt Hancock, Priti Patel, Esther McVey, Liz Truss, Ben Wallace and Rishi Sunak.

Rust said: "It is also heartening to see a number of key allies of British racing receiving cabinet and ministerial appointments across departments with significant influence, including at the Home Office, the Treasury, Defra, and the Department for International Trade.

Boris Johnson: committed to animal welfare in his first speech as Prime MinisterCredit: Mike Hewitt

"We greatly appreciate the support and counsel from members across the House of Commons, and through our sport’s unified public affairs strategy we will continue to advocate to political audiences our quality, commitment to the welfare of our horses and people, as well as promoting the international reach and economic impact which makes British racing a world-leader."

After becoming prime minister on Wednesday, Johnson used his speech in Downing Street to mention promoting "the welfare of animals that has always been so close to the hearts of the British people".

Rust added: "British racing is an industry which puts the welfare of our racehorses at the heart of everything we do, so we very much welcome the new prime minister’s commitment to his administration promoting the welfare of animals."

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