The Treasury has condemned speculation over a potential betting tax rise as “irresponsible” after horse racing staged unprecedented strike action.

Four race meetings due to take place on 10 September were cancelled in protest at government proposals to merge existing betting duties into a single remote gaming duty of 21 percent.

Dan Tomlinson, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, sought to calm tensions. 

“The Chancellor has been clear that speculation on tax rises, which is what this is, is not only inaccurate, but also irresponsible,” he said. “We have not announced an increase in the tax on horserace betting, and racecourse betting currently gets a 100 percent tax break which we have no plans to change.”

“We know horseracing is part of the cultural fabric of the country, that’s why it’s the only sector that benefits from a government-mandated levy. Our wider gambling consultation is only about levelling the playing field and simplifying the system, and we are working closely with the industry to understand any potential impacts.”

The Betting and Gaming Council criticised the strikes, warning they could “undermine the revenues that sustain jobs, communities, and the long-term future of the sport.” 

A final decision on tax reform will be announced in the Autumn Budget on 26 November – but be warned, this is the very same Treasury that said it would not put up taxes up on working people. Who do they think the near 90,000 people who have lost their hospitality jobs due to the damaging rise in NIC rates are? Oh, our bad, the government were being straight-up: they’re not working people now.