In a written ministerial statement the Government has announced that it will kickstart the process for selling off the Wigan-based company. The Minister announced that they will be inviting proposals and expect to have completed the process by the New Year in order to secure ‘value for the taxpayer'.
The ministerial statement gives little in the way of answers and raises the prospect of a sale to an overseas buyer which is not in the long term interests of the Tote or the racing industry. I will shortly be joining Lisa Nandy MP in meeting with the minister (John Penrose MP) at which we will stress the importance of the Tote to the Wigan economy and alternative proposals for its future.
