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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Super-casino axe is 'confirmed' | Super-casino axe is 'confirmed' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Plans for a giant super-casino in Manchester have been scrapped but ministers will go ahead with proposals for 16 large regional casinos. | |
| The BBC has learned that the decision is to be announced in a statement to the Commons after the half-term recess. | The BBC has learned that the decision is to be announced in a statement to the Commons after the half-term recess. |
| Gordon Brown ordered a review of the plans shortly after becoming PM, and a rethink has been confirmed in a letter to Scottish and Welsh executives. | Gordon Brown ordered a review of the plans shortly after becoming PM, and a rethink has been confirmed in a letter to Scottish and Welsh executives. |
| Manchester City Council says it will "not comment on a leak". | |
| However, its officials have warned in the past they would legally challenge any u-turn. | |
| The city was a surprise winner when it was chosen as the location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino. | The city was a surprise winner when it was chosen as the location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino. |
| LARGE CASINOS Great YarmouthHullLeedsMiddlesbroughMilton KeynesNewhamSolihullSouthampton class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5298682.stm">Q&A: What is a super-casino? | |
| It was named the preferred site in January 2007 at the expense of Blackpool, whose supporters said it would benefit more. | |
| But in March that year, peers rejected the plan by just three votes, after MPs had backed it by a majority of 24. | |
| The scheme was then put in doubt when Gordon Brown asked Communities Secretary Hazel Blears to carry out a review into other ways to regenerate Manchester. | |
| That prompted concern from senior officials in the city who claimed the team behind the review had not even visited the proposed site of the super-casino in Beswick. | That prompted concern from senior officials in the city who claimed the team behind the review had not even visited the proposed site of the super-casino in Beswick. |
| SMALL CASINOS Bath and North East SomersetDumfries and GallowayEast Lindsey LutonScarboroughSwanseaTorbayWolverhampton | |
| The policy had been backed by former prime minister Tony Blair, who said in May that he thought both Manchester and Blackpool should get super-casinos, if there was sufficient investment. | |
| However, the decision to take the super-casino away from Manchester will effectively be seen as Mr Brown tearing up Mr Blair's plans. | |
| Last year, the then culture secretary James Purnell asked the 16 councils awarded licences for new larger casinos whether they had since had a "change of heart". | Last year, the then culture secretary James Purnell asked the 16 councils awarded licences for new larger casinos whether they had since had a "change of heart". |
| He wrote to them to confirm the councils' "continued desire" for a casino. | He wrote to them to confirm the councils' "continued desire" for a casino. |