Harriet Harman has set the hare running this morning by proposing a levy on sports betting. The shadow sports minister Clive Efford said:
‘We believe it is right that businesses that make money from sport should contribute to sport. We are consulting on whether we should introduce a levy on betting, including online betting, to fund gambling awareness and support for problem gambling but also to improve community sports facilities and clubs.’
Harman and Efford have also singled out the Premier League. They propose that its voluntary levy on broadcast deals (worth £5.5bn) be turned into a ‘proper tax’, which would raise £275m for grassroots football.
The improvement of grass roots sport is a noble ambition, and one supported by the gambling industry. A spokesman from William Hill told The Spectator that the company ‘welcomed all initiatives’ to improve local and school sport, but questioned the existing funding model.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate, free for a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.
UNLOCK ACCESS Try a month freeAlready a subscriber? Log in