Brent Council Leader Cllr Muhammed Butt and Deputy Leader Cllr Mili Patel have written to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy MP, calling for urgent reform to gambling laws that continue to harm local communities.

The letter, backed by a growing coalition of Labour-led councils, outlines a six-point plan to update the Gambling Act 2005 and give local authorities the power to protect high streets and residents from the unchecked spread of betting shops and adult gaming centres.

Despite overwhelming community opposition, councils like Brent are currently forced to favour approval of new gambling venues under the law’s outdated ‘Aim to Permit’ policy. Operators can bypass local decision-makers and appeal directly to the national Planning Inspectorate — a loophole exploited repeatedly in Brent.

“We are standing up for our residents,” said Cllr Butt. “We know the damage that saturation gambling can do — to mental health, public safety, and our local economy. It’s time councils were given the power to say enough is enough.”

Brent’s letter highlights rising crime rates and NHS pressure linked to gambling harm, and calls on government to act on the wider reform agenda. Encouragingly, the Labour Government has already adopted one of Brent’s proposals — a levy on gambling firms to fund treatment and prevention services.

Cllr Mili Patel added: “We are proud to be working with Labour colleagues in government and across the country to deliver change. Brent is showing what local leadership looks like — rooted in community need, backed by evidence, and focused on action.”

Brent Labour will continue to campaign to ensure our communities can take back control of their high streets — and put people, not profits, first.