Labour backbench MPs push for tough, wholesale changes to gambling regulation

Large and growing group fear ministers may pull their punches when drafting new legislation to appease donors

The embattled Labour leadership is facing a challenge from backbench MPs pushing for wholesale reform of gambling regulation, putting Keir Starmer on a potential collision course with some of the party's largest donors.

The Guardian understands that a large and growing group of backbenchers are concerned that ministers may pull punches on further regulation of the UK's betting and gaming sector, which took a record 11.5bn from punters last year.