Burnham announces vape and betting shop curbs for UK high streets
PM introduces planning restrictions and council powers to reverse decades of high street decline linked to crime and money-laundering.
Conversation activity · last 28 hours peak 8/30m
Summary, timeline and people extracted by Claude from 14 items across 4 sources · 3h ago. Quotes are verbatim.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to require planning permission for new vape shops and strengthen councils' ability to block betting shops and adult gaming centres across the UK. The measures, shaped by BBC investigations into organised crime on high streets, aim to reverse the decline of town centres and combat an estimated £1bn in criminal cash laundering through high street stores annually. Implementation could begin in early 2027.
- Vape shops will require planning permission in England and Wales; betting shops and gaming centres will face tightened council scrutiny across Great Britain.
- Plans are directly motivated by BBC investigations exposing organised crime and an estimated £1bn annual criminal cash laundering through high streets.
- Conservatives argue the measures will worsen empty shops without addressing Labour's business rate increases.
- Implementation could begin in early 2027 as part of a broader '10-year plan to bring back hope'.
How it unfolded
-
Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveiled plans requiring planning permission for new vape shops in England and Wales, scrapping the 'aim to permit' rule to give councils power to refuse betting shops and adult gaming centres. The measures also include enhanced closure orders for shops selling illegal tobacco.
“I don't see why anywhere should have to accept they have empty shops, vape shops and the challenges that come with that.”
Andy Burnham · Press ↗ -
Burnham stated the government plans were 'shaped' by BBC News investigations exposing organised crime, including shops selling illegal cigarettes, vapes, cannabis and cocaine, enabling illegal working and suspected money-laundering.
-
The National Crime Agency reported that at least £1bn of criminal cash is laundered through UK high street stores annually through businesses connected to counterfeit goods, tax evasion, illegal working and drug supply.
-
Angela Rayner told BBC Breakfast that many people were frustrated at vape and gambling outlets appearing near schools and linked to illegal activity and crime.
“many people were frustrated at vape and gambling outlets "popping up even near schools and some of them are linked to illegal activity and crime"”
Angela Rayner · Press ↗ -
Conservative shadow communities secretary Sir James Cleverly said the proposals would lead to more empty shops without tax relief for other small businesses, claiming Labour's business rate increases had left empty units to be filled by rogue operators.
“once-treasured shops" have been replaced by a "smattering of rogue operators”
Sir James Cleverly · Press ↗
What people are saying verbatim
“At the same time we're changing the planning regime... which should stop the proliferation of vape shops on our high streets.”
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister · BBC News ↗
“I don't see why anywhere should have to accept they have empty shops, vape shops and the challenges that come with that.”
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister · BBC News ↗
“I want the strongest possible neighbourhood policing, with all agencies involved, to rip out criminal behaviour that is pulling places down.”
Andy Burnham, Prime Minister · BBC News ↗
“many people were frustrated at vape and gambling outlets "popping up even near schools and some of them are linked to illegal activity and crime".”
Angela Rayner, Housing Secretary · BBC News ↗
“once-treasured shops" have been replaced by a "smattering of rogue operators".”
Sir James Cleverly, Conservative shadow communities secretary · BBC News ↗
“Unless the government takes steps to su…”
Sir James Cleverly, Conservative shadow communities secretary · BBC News ↗