The Labour Party is currently running into dangerous democratic territory and David Lammy, the man who’s best buddies with the US Vice President, could be heading for a political spanking. The deputy prime minister is delighted to dine, wine and holiday together with the racist leaning, Epstein protecting, Brit basher JD Vance, but put an AGC on a UK high street – no, no, no. Lammy lapdog is off the leash and he’s barking … mad.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy has thrown his weight behind a campaign against plans for a new adult gaming centre in north London, despite the Planning Inspectorate ruling there was insufficient evidence the venue would increase gambling-related harm.
The inspectorate overturned Hackney Council’s refusal of the application after concluding concerns over crime, anti-social behaviour and the concentration of gambling premises were not supported by substantive evidence. The proposed venue, submitted by Luxury Leisure, must still secure a gambling licence before it can open.
Despite presenting no evidence to support its claims, campaign group Bets Off Blackstock has continued to oppose the scheme, arguing the development would harm the local community due to its proximity to homes, schools and existing gambling venues.
Lammy has publicly backed the campaign, saying: “An adult gaming centre in this location would be hugely detrimental to Finsbury Park. I have now promised my constituents that I will do everything I can as their member of parliament to ensure licensing is not permitted for this premises.”
Lammy the lamb?
You could say that the MP for Tottenham’s public support for the anti-gambling campaign arrives against the backdrop of mounting speculation over Labour’s future leadership. When, rather than if, Andy Burnham does move into Number 10, Lammy will no doubt want a seat at the Cabinet table.
His problem, and indeed his party’s too, is that they love to shout from the moral highground, and yet want to govern against all those morals they preach to the rest of us.
Lammy has hailed down the anti-gambling bandwagon, jumped right on it and is riding that vibe all the way to hypocrisy city. No evidence, no facts and actually no sense of governmental responsibility.
Blocking a business because you don’t like it is not the judgement required of a deputy prime minister. If it were, Lammy certainly wouldn’t be cavorting with a man like JD Vance who dismisses racist, homophobic and anti-semitic hate speech within in his own political ranks and supports the Turning Point organisation which advocates that women should be subjugated to the home.
Let’s see how that friendship plays out with his Tottenham prohibition pals, because it won’t sound too moral to most of them.
And the biggest ‘moral’ of all? For our politicians, at least, should be upholding our democracy against all threats. But Lammy lapdog has dismissed all his morals on this front and has no issues with a new PM taking office, on the back of 25,000 people in Makerfield voting for him.
Lammy’s judgement isn’t looking too good under scrutiny – the Vance friendship that flies in the face of all personal morals, backing Burnham’s coup d’etat against all political principles and driving the Tottenham prohibitionists against all evidence.
Businesses, particularly highly regulated businesses, deserve a better hearing than a text-book prohibition mantra.
As a minister, Lammy should be engaging not protesting. He should be using the evidence to determine the right decision, not bowing to his local luvvies because they dislike gambling.
