Andy Burnham has been called out live on ITV after he said councils are to be given powers to stop betting and vape shops taking over their high streets.
Plans to Give Councils New Powers
Local authorities will be able to reject new betting shops and adult gaming centres, while vape shops will be subject to planning permission under plans Downing Street said could be in place from the start of 2027.
Last Monday, Burnham said: "The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services and community spaces that people are crying out for. That's not on."
He added: "I said we would improve Britain’s high streets, and that’s exactly what we are starting to do."
Bookmaker Responds to Comments
But now, Andy Geraghty, a bookmaker at the York Ebor Festival on Wednesday, has responded to Burnham's comments and believes it's a "sweeping statement".
When asked about Burnham's plans Geraghty said: "I don't think Andy Burnham would be welcome to come in the ring with his comments. We are a legitimate industry, highly regulated. We pay an enormous amount of tax to the exchequer. To sweep us up with vape shops, he said we were ‘dodgy’ - a sweeping statement. It's wrong."
