Philip Davies: Serving the People’s Interests?
I note that Conservative Parliamentary candidate Philip Davies’ election slogan is “In Your Interest, Not Self Interest”. He is fortunate that politics is outside the remit of Trading Standards because otherwise they would surely be called in to investigate this claim.
As a gambling addict, I know first hand how addictive and destructive Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) are. These are gambling machines that can take bets of up to £100 every 20 seconds on high speed roulette and casino games.
Betting shops are proliferating, particularly in deprived areas, as a result of being allowed four FOBTs per premises. In the last Parliament, Mr. Davies steered a committee which called for even more FOBTs in betting shops. It then transpired he had failed to declare a Ladbrokes sponsored trip to the races before he had interviewed the Ladbrokes Chief Executive. Even after the embarrassing apology to the House of Commons that ensued, Mr. Davies not only defended FOBTs but worked closely with lobbyists for the corporate bookmakers. Briefings were leaked to Andrew Lyman, William Hill’s head of public affairs, and Mr. Davies was photographed with several lobbyists from the bookmakers in Westminster, holding what looked a lot like a strategy meeting. Could Mr. Davies’ time not have been better spent serving his constituents?
It is quite clear whose interests Mr. Davies represents. Shipley deserves a lot better than an MP who puts his corporate friends above the interests of those who put their faith in him at the last election.
– Steve Bailey, Bingley resident