Later today, my colleague Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Culture Secretary, will announce plans to depoliticise the National Lottery, freeing up an extra £180 million per annum for good causes.
In common with many other MPs, I find increasingly that strong bids for lottery support are being rejected. Under Labour, lottery money is routinely applied for purposes that should be the subject of general taxation, such as health, education and, notoriously, the London Olympics. A total of £3.8 billion has been used this way since Labour came to power in 1997.
Just as shameful is the way that lottery monies have been diverted to projects in Labour-held constituencies. The Telegraph reports that constituencies represented by Labour MPs have received an average of £852,063 in lottery grants since 1997, compared to £342,989 for those with Conservative members. The spirit of Tammany Hall lives on.
Hunt proposes, among other things, that the Lottery become accountable to Parliament, with appointments to Lottery distribution boards made subject to approval by select committees.
The proposed reforms are long overdue and will be welcomed by voluntary groups throughout the country. I have no doubt that they will be opposed by Labour, but it will be fascinating to see the grounds of opposition.
In common with many other MPs, I find increasingly that strong bids for lottery support are being rejected. Under Labour, lottery money is routinely applied for purposes that should be the subject of general taxation, such as health, education and, notoriously, the London Olympics. A total of £3.8 billion has been used this way since Labour came to power in 1997.
Just as shameful is the way that lottery monies have been diverted to projects in Labour-held constituencies. The Telegraph reports that constituencies represented by Labour MPs have received an average of £852,063 in lottery grants since 1997, compared to £342,989 for those with Conservative members. The spirit of Tammany Hall lives on.
Hunt proposes, among other things, that the Lottery become accountable to Parliament, with appointments to Lottery distribution boards made subject to approval by select committees.
The proposed reforms are long overdue and will be welcomed by voluntary groups throughout the country. I have no doubt that they will be opposed by Labour, but it will be fascinating to see the grounds of opposition.
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The spirit of Tammany Hall lives on.
What does that mean?
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