CAMPAIGNING MP Graham Jones has welcomed a government U-turn on limiting the maximum stake on gambling machines in high-street betting shops.

This afternoon Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright announced the highest bet on the Fixed Odds Betting Machines (FOBTs) would be cut from £100 to £2 in April.

The decision reversed a Budget proposal to delay the move until October in the face of a Tory backbench rebellion at Westminster next week.

Hyndburn Labour MP Mr Jones, who has been camapaigning for a cut in the maximum stake on FOBTs for five years, said: "I am delighted the government has totally capitulated on this issue.

"These machines are the crack cocaine of gambling and ruin lives. They have turned high street betting shops into mini-casinos.

"I first raised this issue in a House of Commons debate five years ago and I welcome this U-turn returning the date of the cut from £100 to £2 to April. This is long over due."

Mr Wright's announcement followed the resignation of Sport Minister Tracey Crouch over Chancellor Philip Hammond's proposal to delay the cut by six months and several senior Tory MPs backing an amendment to Budget legislation to reverse the move.

The government looked likely to lose next week's vote on FOBT stakes.

Mr Wright said: "The government has listened and will now implement the reduction in April 2019."

He added that a planned increase in Remote Gaming Duty, paid by online gaming firms, would be brought forward to April to make up lost revenue.