Written by Jon Bryan | Expected reading time 3 minutes
Last Updated: May 18, 2026
Written by Jon Bryan
Jon Bryan, writing for SlotsHawk, looks at the political turmoil in the UK.
A NEW PRIME MINISTER?
If Keir Starmer is not Prime Minister at the end of the year, a friend of mine wins a bet that he put on many months ago. By the time this article is published, he might have won that bet.
Following the disastrous results for the Labour Party in UK elections at the start of the month, it is becoming increasingly likely that we will have a new Prime Minister. I’ve written elsewhere what the rise of the Green vote might mean for gambling and gamblers but let’s consider what a change in the Labour Leadership might mean.
ARE ANY NEW GAMBLING POLICIES ARE PLANNED?
Nothing new is expected to come from the UK government on gambling, as the King’s Speech recently outlined new legislation for the next period in parliament. But that doesn’t mean it is steady as she goes in the sphere of gambling. No-one knew that the government was going to increase the taxes applied to gambling dramatically last year, so you can never tell what is going to happen to when it comes to the regulation of the UK gambling sector.
THE LEADERSHIP CANDIDATES
The main leadership candidates have nothing new to add. Whoever wins is unlikely to dramatically change direction when it comes to gambling reform. Let’s take a quick look at the candidates:
- Andy Burnham – seems to have a particular dislike for gambling advertising.
- Wes Streeting – one of the frontrunners to take over, said last year: ‘I think gambling is a bit like alcohol in that I do not want to stop people having a flutter, just as I do not want to stop people enjoying a pint’. That’s a view that I can largely get on board with.
- Shabana Mahmood – has consistently voted for stronger regulation of gambling according to They Work For You, but this was a few years ago and it was in line with Labour Party policy in general.
- Angela Rayner – those who see Angela Rayner as a bit of rebel who likes to party might hope that she has a more relaxed attitude to people who enjoy gambling. However, like other things, it might be a case of one rule for her and a different one for the rest of us.
- Ed Miliband – and what about Ed Miliband? The favourite according to some. His previous hardline approaches to regulate gambling were more than a decade ago. But his focus on other societal and environmental issues might mean his attention could be elsewhere.
THE FUTURE
As I write, it’s not clear which individual will be taking over from Keir Starmer in the very near future, and so my money will stay in my pocket rather than betting on that outcome.
Whatever happens, there’s a need to be wary of any leader being susceptible to the back-bench MPs who seem intent on harming both the gambling industry and the experience of those of us who regularly gamble.
It is perhaps those voices who remain on the backbenches – who have a particular dislike of gambling and gamblers – that are more of a danger than those at the top.
Jon Bryan is a Gambling Writer and recreational Poker Player who writes regularly on his Substack, as well as for SlotsHawk News, which you can find here: Jon’s articles for SlotsHawk.
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