It's time to raise taxes on harmful gambling machines.
Today, 90 Labour MPs have written to the Chancellor, calling for an increase in Machine Games Duty for harmful high-stakes gambling machines.
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Alex Ballinger MP✓
@AlexBallingerMP
Labour's MP for Halesowen. Formerly @RoyalMarines & @FCDOGovUK
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- Excellent result in Dudley for our brilliant Labour candidate Caroline Reid! Clear victory for local campaigning vs Reform’s foreign donations being thrown at the seat.electionmapsuk @electionmapsukSt James (Dudley) Council By-Election Result: 🌹 LAB: 38.0% (+16.2) ➡️ RFM: 37.9% (-11.0) 🌳 CON: 13.8% (-0.1) ◼️ RES: 6.9% (New) 🌍 GRN: 3.4% (-7.2) No LDM (-3.9) or TUSC (-0.9) as previous. Labour GAIN from Reform UK. Changes w/ 2026.804294.2K
St James (Dudley) Council By-Election Result: 🌹 LAB: 38.0% (+16.2) ➡️ RFM: 37.9% (-11.0) 🌳 CON: 13.8% (-0.1) ◼️ RES: 6.9% (New) 🌍 GRN: 3.4% (-7.2) No LDM (-3.9) or TUSC (-0.9) as previous. Labour GAIN from Reform UK. Changes w/ 2026.3462692.5K421K- Alex Ballinger MPRT @josephpowell: When you appear on GB News to talk about the budget and everyone agrees with our Labour policy to lift 70,000 more high street businesses out of paying business rates, funded by Adult Gaming Centres (24/7 slot machines) and vape stores...0309
- Alex Ballinger MPRT @BBCNewsnight: "I had a list of seven or eight things that I suggested to the Chancellor and I've been pretty gobsmacked that five of them were in the budget." Martin Lewis, Founder of Money Saving Expert, reacts to Chancellor John Healey's first budget. #Newsnight043017
- I warmly welcome the Chancellor’s decision to increase the standard rate of Machine Games Duty from 20% to 25% on high-harm machines, as well as excluding adult gaming centres from business rates relief. These are important steps towards putting our communities first and ensuring the tax system better reflects the risks posed by rapid-play, addictive machines. Gambling can devastate lives, tear families apart and leave communities bearing the cost. The Chancellor is right to act – supporting our high streets should mean backing local businesses that help them thrive, not serving the interests of the gambling industry. We must now build on today’s progress with stronger protections. That means swiftly delivering the Government’s commitment to end ‘aim to permit’ and giving councils greater control over the spread of adult gaming centres. It also means tougher action from the Gambling Commission to enforce existing safeguards, alongside further reforms to close loopholes and bolster player protections. This is about fairness and whose interests we put first. For Halesowen and communities across the country, our high streets should serve local people – and I look forward to working with the Government in bringing forward these important changes.11094790.6K
- Posts @AlexBallingerMPgaming centres. It also means tougher action from the Gambling Commission to enforce existing safeguards, alongside further reforms to close loopholes and bolster player protections. This is about fairness and whose interests we put first. For Halesowen and communities across10177
- Posts @AlexBallingerMPThe country, our high streets should serve local people – and I look forward to working with the Government in bringing forward these important changes.10059
- This Saturday, I'll interview veteran broadcaster Ian Dale in Birmingham. Only a few tickets remain, and they are selling fast! Buy yours today before they sell out! You won't want to miss this! Tickets available here👇🏻
011362 - Last week, I was on GB News to discuss the government's pragmatic work to give you more breathing room, including cutting standing charges on gas bills.302996
- As threats from our adversaries grow more prevalent, we must learn from our allies how to bolster our national resilience in an increasingly volatile world. Read my recent remarks below👇🏻100303
- Are there any Reform Councillors who haven’t been the leader of Staffordshire yet? Every Reform run council is a shambles.Martin Murray @martinpmurrayFollowing careful consideration, I have concluded that it is in the best interests of Staffordshire, our residents and this County Council for me to step down as Leader of Staffordshire County Council and Leader of the Reform UK Group. This was a difficult decision, but the interests of Staffordshire, the Council and those we serve must come first. I do so with a clear conscience and immense pride in what we achieved together. During my time as Leader, we delivered a balanced budget, protected frontline services, secured significant investment in highways, children's services and community facilities, and provided stability through one of the most challenging periods in the County Council's recent history. I am particularly proud of the work undertaken to strengthen Staffordshire's identity, confidence and economic ambition. Through supporting investment, promoting county pride, strengthening skills and employment opportunities, and backing our tourism and leisure sectors, I sought to help unlock Staffordshire's potential and create opportunities for future generations. Whether supporting major investment, protecting Staffordshire County Farms or advocating for local businesses on the national stage, my focus was always on ensuring Staffordshire remained a county where businesses could invest, communities could thrive and residents could succeed. Staffordshire is home to some of our country's most successful global businesses and institutions, including JCB, Indurent, JLR, Finning, Keele University and Keele University Science and Innovation Park, alongside thousands of small businesses, from farm shops to engineering firms, from global manufacturers to hospitality venues and family-run enterprises. They are a reminder that Staffordshire remains one of the great manufacturing heartlands of Great Britain and a county with enormous potential for the future. I am equally proud of the work I started to raise the profile of Staffordshire's tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors. With the likes of Alton Towers, Drayton Manor, Trentham Estate and Cannock Chase, together with the thousands of hotels, spas, glamping sites, restaurants, event venues and award-winning pubs that welcome visitors every year, Staffordshire has an offer few counties can rival. I have long believed that our county should be recognised not only as a centre of industry and innovation, but also as a destination where people come to relax, explore and create lasting memories. That is why we branded Staffordshire as The Nation's Playground. I have always believed Staffordshire deserved a stronger voice and greater recognition, and that's why I called Staffordshire: The Beating Heart of the Country. It has been a privilege to serve the people of Staffordshire and to work alongside dedicated councillors, officers, businesses, community organisations and residents. While my time as Leader has come to an end, my commitment to Staffordshire and the people of Cannock remains unchanged. I do wish the Council and its new leadership every success in the years ahead. Martin Murray Staffordshire County Councillor for Cannock Town154211.3K
Following careful consideration, I have concluded that it is in the best interests of Staffordshire, our residents and this County Council for me to step down as Leader of Staffordshire County Council and Leader of the Reform UK Group. This was a difficult decision, but the interests of Staffordshire, the Council and those we serve must come first. I do so with a clear conscience and immense pride in what we achieved together. During my time as Leader, we delivered a balanced budget, protected frontline services, secured significant investment in highways, children's services and community facilities, and provided stability through one of the most challenging periods in the County Council's recent history. I am particularly proud of the work undertaken to strengthen Staffordshire's identity, confidence and economic ambition. Through supporting investment, promoting county pride, strengthening skills and employment opportunities, and backing our tourism and leisure sectors, I sought to help unlock Staffordshire's potential and create opportunities for future generations. Whether supporting major investment, protecting Staffordshire County Farms or advocating for local businesses on the national stage, my focus was always on ensuring Staffordshire remained a county where businesses could invest, communities could thrive and residents could succeed. Staffordshire is home to some of our country's most successful global businesses and institutions, including JCB, Indurent, JLR, Finning, Keele University and Keele University Science and Innovation Park, alongside thousands of small businesses, from farm shops to engineering firms, from global manufacturers to hospitality venues and family-run enterprises. They are a reminder that Staffordshire remains one of the great manufacturing heartlands of Great Britain and a county with enormous potential for the future. I am equally proud of the work I started to raise the profile of Staffordshire's tourism, leisure and hospitality sectors. With the likes of Alton Towers, Drayton Manor, Trentham Estate and Cannock Chase, together with the thousands of hotels, spas, glamping sites, restaurants, event venues and award-winning pubs that welcome visitors every year, Staffordshire has an offer few counties can rival. I have long believed that our county should be recognised not only as a centre of industry and innovation, but also as a destination where people come to relax, explore and create lasting memories. That is why we branded Staffordshire as The Nation's Playground. I have always believed Staffordshire deserved a stronger voice and greater recognition, and that's why I called Staffordshire: The Beating Heart of the Country. It has been a privilege to serve the people of Staffordshire and to work alongside dedicated councillors, officers, businesses, community organisations and residents. While my time as Leader has come to an end, my commitment to Staffordshire and the people of Cannock remains unchanged. I do wish the Council and its new leadership every success in the years ahead. Martin Murray Staffordshire County Councillor for Cannock Town151309698.4K- Alex Ballinger MPRT @SoniaKumarMP: This Thursday, St James’s votes. I’m backing Caroline Reid. She knows our town centre, she listens, and she gets things done for residents. Polls are open 7am to 10pm on Thursday 29 October. Vote Caroline Reid.01018
- Alex Ballinger MPRT @iainmartin1: Is deeply odd this profusion of people mocking the idea that people having basic supplies - food, water, some cash, wind-up radio - is somehow silly, a joke or weird. In countries such as Finland and Sweden this is absolutely standard, part of their “total defence” doctrine.LBC @LBC'You're so wrong!' Should we prepare for potential food shortages and power cuts, or is it the Government’s job to protect us? @IainDale, @Martha_Gill and @CarolineFlint debate.051015
LBC@LBC'You're so wrong!' Should we prepare for potential food shortages and power cuts, or is it the Government’s job to protect us? @IainDale, @Martha_Gill and @CarolineFlint debate.831211293.5K- Alex Ballinger MPRT @EndGamblingAds: The latest Private Eye includes the @BetGameCouncil apparently being on DCMS’s “Illegal Gambling Taskforce” despite some of its members appearing to be linked to unlicensed casinos.014015
- Alex Ballinger MPRT @ShabanaMahmood: Some chatter on social media would have you believe that crime is out of control. The facts tell a different story. As @frasernelson has shown in his Substack today: Violence is at its lowest level since the crime survey began in 1981. Robbery is at a record low. Crime, excluding fraud, is 78% down on its peak in 1995. And the stats show this Government is delivering on its promises too: Knife crime is down 11%. Knife murders are at their lowest level in 35 years. Thefts including phone snatching have fallen by 20% in the last year alone. But I know there is more that we must do, and we will: We’ve put more than 3,800 extra neighbourhood officers into roles, with named, contactable officers for every neighbourhood. We’re introducing the most significant reforms to policing in a generation. We are tackling rising rates of violence against women and girls through our landmark strategy. And we are tackling crimes like fraud, more prevalent in our increasingly online world, with £250 million directed to this challenge in our Fraud Strategy published this year.0242013
- Today I called on Nigel Farage and Reform's Leader in Dudley to finally take action against Cllr Ashman for his disgraceful online conduct. Nigel Farage must do the decent thing and finally suspend Cllr Ashman. Read my letter below👇
17262.3K - Alex Ballinger MPRT @GR_APPG: We’re delighted that @DawnButlerBrent has been elected our new Vice Chair! Dawn is a leading champion in efforts to tackle gambling harms, and we look forward to continuing our work together.04014
- It’s time to raise tax on harmful, high-risk gambling machines. Explaining our campaign on @ITVNews 🎙️📺8372224.3K
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