Racing fan Nigel Adams appointed sports minister as part of reshuffle

British racing is set to have its third sports minister in nine months with Nigel Adams appointed to the role as part of prime minister Boris Johnson's radical reshuffle.

He replaces Mims Davies who took over from Tracey Crouch in November last year.

Adams is said to enjoy racing and his constituency of Selby and Ainsty in Yorkshire means he is BHA chief executive Nick Rust's local MP.

As a member of the culture, media and sport committee in 2015 Adams questioned the then culture secretary John Whittingdale about levy replacement.

As expected, Jeremy Wright has been replaced as culture secretary but not by the person who had been tipped for the role, which covers both the racing and gambling industries.

Tracey Crouch, who last year resigned over the perceived delay over implementing the cut in FOBT stakes, reportedly turned down a cabinet place in charge of the culture department in order to spend more time with her young son.

Tracey Crouch: resigned last year over delays to the cuts in FOBT stakesCredit: Eamonn M. McCormack

Instead Nicky Morgan was appointed to the position. While she has no links to racing she did play a prominent role in the controversy over the date of the implementation of the cut in FOBT stakes.

Chairing the Treasury Committee last November, Morgan said: "It is the case that the government has prioritised the preservation of jobs in the gambling industry over the addiction of those who suffer from these machines."

A number of MPs who are friendly to racing have been appointed to the cabinet or will attend Johnson's cabinet meetings.

Matt Hancock, whose constituency includes Newmarket, has retained his position as health minister.

Priti Patel, a racing fan who attends Aintree's Grand National meeting each year, was appointed as home secretary.

Other supporters of the sport who found favour with Johnson included Esther McVey, Liz Truss and Ben Wallace, the new housing, international trade and defence secretaries respectively.

Rishi Sunak, the MP for Richmond in North Yorkshire which covers Middleham, has been appointed chief secretary to the Treasury.

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