Expect slow progress on gambling debate as Labour conference suggests issue is not a government priority

Those looking for clues on gambling policy developments from last week's Labour Party conference were not left with a great deal to go on. Indeed, the impression given was that the subject is not particularly high on the government's list of priorities.

Gambling falls under the umbrella of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) but there was certainly no mention of Labour's plans for gambling policy in the speech culture secretary Lisa Nandy gave to the conference.

Three weeks ago DCMS minister Stephanie Peacock, who had been expected to take over the gambling brief following this summer's general election, was asked via a written question if there were plans to "take urgent steps" to implement the reforms set out in the previous government's white paper. Peacock replied that "we are in the early stages of the new government and are still considering the full range of gambling policy".