I met with Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross to discuss my Gambling Campaign, which aims to scrap “Aim to Permit” and the incoming Gambling Impact Assessments (GIAs).
For years, I have campaigned alongside Brent Council, local residents and campaigners for stronger powers to tackle the overconcentration of betting shops and adult gaming centres in our communities. Too often, councils have been left with limited tools to challenge new applications, even when there are clear concerns about the impact on local areas.
The introduction of Gambling Impact Assessments will be a significant step forward. They would give councils greater ability to consider the wider impact gambling premises can have on communities and help ensure local voices are properly taken into account when decisions are made.
This is an important milestone in our campaign to reform gambling laws and give communities a greater say over what happens on their high streets. There is still more work to do, including my continued campaign to scrap the outdated "aim to permit" principle, but this meeting was a positive sign that progress is being made.
I will continue working with ministers, local authorities and campaigners to ensure our communities have the powers they need to put residents and local businesses first.