Logo

 

Banner Image:   National-News-banner-Purple
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet


Churches back Tracey Crouch over delay in FOBT limits 


Leaders of churches and Christian organisations have spoken out in support of Tracey Crouch following her resignation as the minister responsible for gambling

 

 
The government have delayed introducing a £2 limit on FOBTs until October 2019. Following a wide ranging consultation the government announced earlier this year that the stake on these machines in betting shops would be cut from £100 to £2 to provide greater protection for the most vulnerable and limit the harm caused by problem gambling.
 
The statement, from leaders in the Church of England, the Methodist Church, the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the United Reformed Church, the Evangelical Alliance, CARE and Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs, supports Crouch’s resignation.
 
“For the last five years, since she raised the issue of the harmful impact of FOBTs in her Chatham constituency in a debate in Parliament, Tracey Crouch has been committed to achieving a sensible maximum stake as soon as possible. As a minister, she has shown unfailing loyalty to government policy, while not concealing her real concern. We echo the tributes that have been made to her consistent, principled approach.
 
“No valid reasons have been given for delaying implementation of the £2 stake. Individuals, families and communities will continue to suffer - at the cost, even, of more avoidable deaths - for six months beyond April 2019, unless the government accepts that the same reasons which led it to accept the change must lead it to bring the date forward.”
 
Mark Sheard, Chair of the Mission and Public Affairs Council, Church of England
Bala Gnanapragasam, Vice-President of the Methodist Conference
Rev Stephen Keyworth, Baptist Union of Great Britain
Rev John Proctor, General Secretary, United Reformed Church
Dr David Landrum, Director of Advocacy, Evangelical Alliance
Alison Mather, Director, Quaker Action on Alcohol and Drugs
Nola Leach, Chief Executive, CARE
 
A similar coalition of churches and charities welcomed the government announcement in May 2018.

Baptist Times, 02/11/2018
    Post     Tweet
'Come Holy Spirit' is our desire as we walk forward, with God leading us
Chris Duffett’s Baptist Assembly paintings have raised donations to support Home Mission and are now in local Baptist churches providing inspiration and reflection
Nationwide Christmas campaign ‘Shine Your Light' seeks 1,000 churches this year
UK churches are being invited to reach 1-million people this December – by taking the Christmas story of ‘comfort and joy’ outside of church walls
Baptist Union Council: October 2024
Baptist Union Council took place 23-24 October at the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire
Project Violet: Council affirms commitments to action
Baptist Union Council receives and affirms the commitments to action on women’s experience of ministry made from across Baptists Together in response to the findings of Project Violet
Collaboration; contextual approaches - first Everyone Everywhere national conference
Collaboration in sharing the gospel and a recognition that contrasting, contextual approaches are all needed to help people encounter Jesus were key themes at the first Everyone Everywhere national conference
Prayer bulletin for very small Baptist churches
A number of small, often rural, Baptist churches are being strengthened in their ministry by an initiative which sees them praying for each other on a regular basis
     Latest News 
    Posted: 26/02/2024