CHASING FILTHY LUCRE:

Gambling rebels cut Blair's majority (JAMES KIRKUP, 11/02/04, The Scotsman)

THE government’s majority was halved last night as Labour back-benchers rebelled against plans which would allow huge Las Vegas-style casinos to open in Britain.

The voting was 286 to 212, a majority of 74, at the end of an impassioned six and a half hour second reading debate on the Gambling Bill. [...]

The Conservatives opposed the bill, hoping to capitalise on the Labour backlash, but last night there were signs that the Tories were facing an embarrassing row of their own, once again involving the flamboyant front-bencher Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson, the shadow arts minister and the editor of the Spectator, was absent from the debate on the bill and a long-scheduled departmental question time where it was discussed. His absence triggered speculation that he was at odds with Michael Howard, the Conservative leader, on the issue of gambling.

In a recent editorial, the Spectator described opposition to the bill as a "knee-jerk reaction to absolutely anything the government does, dressed up as moral principle". Some saw it as directed at Mr Howard, whose critics have often accused him of opportunism, although a spokesman for Mr Howard said there was no dispute between the two.

The opponents have the better argument, too bad it's not why Tories are opposed.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 2, 2004 8:10 AM