Culture secretary quits over expenses scandal

UK Culture Secretary Maria Miller has quit following a long-standing row over expenses. In a letter to the Prime Minister, she said the controversy ‘has become a distraction from the vital work this government is doing’.

Miller had been sanctioned by the independent parliamentary commissioner for standards over expenses claims for a second home that her parents lived in and had recommended she repay £45,000. But the Commons Standards Committee reduced this figure to £5,800, a decision that caused more uproar, as did Miller’s perfunctory apology in the House of Commons. Miller’s attitude during the whole investigation was also criticised.

The bad news for the gambling industry is that there will now be another new Culture Secretary overseeing the gambling industry at a time of heightened sensitivity. While Miller had called for tough gaming machine codes, she had also said that any major decisions would be evidenced-based.

It is also thought that Prime Minister David Cameron had been due to announce a strong mandatory code for gaming machines this week, but has spent much of his time trying to keep Miller in her post.