Bacta set out party conference campaign

LONDON (July 13, 2018)

Bacta has outlined a programme of lobbying activities during ‘Party Conference Season’ during which the Association will be taking its arguments on behalf of the industry to all three major political parties. The lobbying programme starts in Brighton on September 17th when the south coast resort will host the Liberal Democrats. One week later and Bacta will be in Liverpool attending the Labour Party Conference (24th and 25th September), followed on the 1st and 2nd October when the Conservative party assembles in Birmingham.

Bacta Chief Executive John White believes attendance at the party conferences is central to the association’s ongoing political lobbying. He said: “We’ve just fought a major campaign on B2 stakes and it’s clear that particular battle is far from over. There’s a lot that we still have to do in order to bring forward the implementation date for the £2 FOBT stake. We also have a range of other issues on the industry shopping list not least the implications of Brexit for both manufacturers and destination venues and the importance of infrastructure investment in coastal resorts. The Party Conferences provide us with an opportunity to engage with both politicians and advisers in order to help influence policy and present a fair and accurate representation of the industry.”

The Brighton Palace Pier will be the venue when Bacta host Liberal Democrat Councillors and Christine Jardine MP the Liberal Democrats spokesperson on Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in the House of Commons. In Liverpool Bacta will be attending a range of Labour Fringe Events, followed by a reception in Birmingham when the association will be bringing a touch of seaside themed fun to the Conservative party.

John White concluded: “Having a successful, campaigning trade association that can deliver politically is a really important reason for joining Bacta. I believe Bacta, with the help of the membership has shown itself to be an effective force and the party conferences provide us with another opportunity to progress the issues that are important to our members.”

About bacta

Bacta represents the amusement and gaming machine industry in the UK, encompassing high-tech and creative manufacturers, machine suppliers for pubs, clubs and bingo halls, as well as operators of Family Entertainment Centres and over 18s Gaming Centres. Bacta members include the whole of the amusement machine supply chain in the UK, which has a collective turnover of nearly £2bn across more than 500 companies, operating in excess of 310,000 machines.