Done family took £30m dividend from Betfred before warning of job cuts

Money was withdrawn from gambling firm before founder warned chancellor against doubling machine games duty

The billionaire Done family took a 30m dividend from their Betfred gambling empire, before warning that they would close hundreds of bookies and cut jobs if the government increases tax on high-street slot machines.

The chancellor, John Healey, is understood to be considering proposals to double machine games duty in the upcoming budget, a move that the Social Market Foundation thinktank has said could boost state coffers by up to 460m.