Dawn Butler MP leads cross-party coalition of 280 leaders urging the Prime Minister to scrap ‘Aim to Permit’ and protect communities from gambling harm.
280 signatories, including local authority leaders, councillors, mayors, Members of Parliament and gambling reform advocates from across the UK, have written to the Prime Minister calling for the immediate abolition of the outdated ‘Aim to Permit’ principle in the Gambling Act 2005.
Many prominent MP’s and councillors across the country are among the many names who have signed the joint letter to back this cross-party campaign, calling on the Government to give local communities more powers to say no to new gambling establishments.
The current legal framework leaves councils powerless to prevent the spread of gambling premises on high streets and in town centres – even where there is clear evidence of social harm and strong local opposition. Local authorities are legally required to approve new gambling licences when minimum criteria are met, regardless of wider harm in communities.
As a result, betting shops, adult gaming centres and casinos continue to cluster disproportionately in economically-deprived areas, worsening inequality and community harm.
While welcoming the Government’s manifesto commitment to reduce gambling harm, signatories urge ministers to act now by scrapping Aim to Permit. With this large cross-party support, Dawn Butler MP has applied for a Ten Minute Rule Bill to end Aim to Permit.
Dawn Butler, Member of Parliament for Brent East, said:
“I am proud and thankful that 280 people from across the political spectrum have come together to say one simple thing: local communities must have the power to say no to new gambling establishments.
“Our high streets are being hollowed out by a surge of betting shops and 24/7 slot-machine venues, while local people are left powerless. This is an economic, moral and public-health emergency – yet the ‘Aim to Permit’ clause leaves councils powerless.
We want to work constructively with the government to end the ‘aim to permit’ loophole, so that local representatives and residents can finally take back control of their high streets. People must come before profit and billionaire-owned corporations.
This isn’t about banning the odd flutter – it’s about tackling avoidable harms. The government made great progress by listening to Gordon Brown, myself and many other campaigners and increasing gambling taxes in the Budget – but now we must go further.
The Government has a historic opportunity to act, reduce gambling harm and restore power to local communities. We urge them to seize it.”
Although the Government has proposed introducing Cumulative Impact Assessments (CIAs) as part of the licensing process, campaigners stress that while these measures are welcome, they do not go far enough as long as Aim to Permit remains law.
The cross-party group has invited the Prime Minister to meet with a small delegation to discuss how removing Aim to Permit can be delivered swiftly and effectively, ensuring communities are empowered and public health is put first.
