Labour deputy candidates back Manchester casino bid

2007-06-08 16:21:47

Most of the Labour Party's deputy leader hopefuls have told a regional newspaper that they back plans for a supercasino to be built in the City of Manchester.

Interviewed by the Manchester Evening News, five the six candidates declared their support for Manchester, with only Alan Johnson, the education secretary, not answering the question.

Hazel Blears, MP for neighbouring Salford, said she supported Manchester's bid, along with Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain and Hilary Benn, the international development secretary.

Justice minister Harriet Harman and backbencher Jon Cruddas told the newspaper that both Manchester and Blackpool should have a supercasino.

The successful candidate will be declared at a conference in Manchester on June 24th, when Gordon Brown officially takes over as prime minister.

At the end of March, the House of Lords voted against the government's all-or-nothing casino package, which put in jeopardy Manchester's hopes to build the UK's first supercasino.

This was despite the fact that the bill won approval from MPs in the House of Commons.

Although the government's proposal to award a supercasino licence to England's second city is now in limbo, council chiefs are still determined to create a Las Vegas-style gambling palace in Manchester.



© Adfero Ltd