Labour to make Grand National pledge over horserace betting levy

Labour will use events at Aintree tomorrow to announce a general election manifesto pledge to oblige overseas bookmakers to pay the horserace betting levy. With the eyes – and the wallets – of the nation on the Grand National, the party will announce its commitment to prevent British bookies moving offices offshore to circumvent the annual payment that is the sport's lifeblood. Figures released last year, when William Hill and Ladbrokes' online operations moved offshore, coincided with a 20% drop in the British Horserace Betting Levy Board's overall receipts. The total impact attributable to Hill's and Ladbrokes' move was estimated to be £4.2m. Gerry Sutcliffe, the sports minister, announced in January his intention to introduce the policy to the statute book before the election. But, with the election having been called for 6 May, time has run out for the government to introduce the measure as law, although Sutcliffe has previously stressed how important the move is. "Of course it's right that all operators pay, wherever they are," Sutcliffe said in January. "Offshore operators have been getting away with it for too long and racing has taken a considerable hit to its Levy income. It has also had the ever-present threat of more moves offshore with potentially severe consequences." Although refusing to confirm whether the matter will make it into the manifesto, the Conservative party said it has already welcomed the proposal. However, describing the Levy as "outdated", a spokesman added: "A Conservative government [would be] determined to find a commercially viable alternative, which works for everyone."