Rachel Reeves under scrutiny over appearance at gambling event during tax review

Rachel Reeves, the current Chancellor, faces mounting criticism over her intention to attend a private reception hosted by gambling industry chief lobbyist Michael Dugher, at a time when the Treasury is actively reviewing taxes on the £12bn betting sector. The timing of her appearance, set for the Labour party conference in Liverpool, has prompted warnings about potential conflicts of interest just weeks before Reeves is expected to unveil decisions on gambling duty in her forthcoming budget.

The event is organised by the corporate communications firm Brunswick, where Dugher has acted as a senior adviser since last year. Dugher, who chairs the Betting and Gaming Council and is a former Labour MP, has been an outspoken advocate for the gambling industry, recently seeking to persuade the Treasury not to increase taxes that could cost the sector billions. He has longstanding ties to several senior Labour figures, including Rachel Reeves, with whom he shares both a political history and a personal friendship dating back to their teenage years.

Criticism has arisen due to reports of previous hospitality and donations received by Reeves from gambling sector interests during her time in opposition. These include three musical tickets from the Betting and Gaming Council, valued at £330 in 2023, and a £20,000 donation from industry executives. Opponents argue that this could raise questions about her impartiality, at a crucial moment when public finances are under scrutiny and policymakers consider increasing gambling taxes to support social programmes.

Daisy Cooper, the Liberal Democrats’ Treasury spokesperson, has called on Reeves to avoid the event and to prove her commitment to taxpayers by raising duties on online gambling companies. This position is echoed by other MPs and campaigners for parliamentary standards, who believe that her involvement could fall within the remit of a new ethics and integrity commission launching soon.

Gambling industry leaders are keen to avoid new levies, while others within Labour, notably former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, urge the Chancellor to extract up to £3bn more from online gambling to fund the abolition of the two-child benefit cap. At this pivotal moment, Reeves’ professional and personal relationship with Dugher, who is hosting the reception alongside Brunswick colleagues, sustains the controversy.

Reeves has stated she has never held formal meetings with the Betting and Gaming Council on tax matters. Still, the convergence of longstanding friendships, sectoral lobbying, and imminent fiscal decisions ensures this issue will remain under public scrutiny ahead of her September budget announcement.