Tessa Jowell Insists Super-casino Plans are Not Over
Culture Secretary undeterred by House of Lords defeat
Monday 2nd April 2007
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell has reiterated that plans for a Super-casino in Manchester are 'very much alive', after facing an unanticipated defeat by peers last Wednesday, according to a report in the Guardian newspaper.
Jowell was adamant that the House of Lords' vote had not closed the door on the Las Vegas-style venue, despite MPs' advice that ministers may need to cancel or continue to deliberate over plans for the regional casino if there is any hope of sanctioning the construction of 16 smaller venues.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has highlighted that the period of purdah will mean that the issue may not be revisited before the Scottish, Welsh and local elections in May. Tony Blair is expected to stand down shortly afterwards, leaving a window of several weeks for the implementation of a new order to parliament before his actual departure.
The prime minister's official spokesman told reporters: “As Tessa Jowell told the cabinet, this policy is very much alive. Ministers will want to reflect on where we are. What nobody should be in any doubt about is the intention.”
