In an interesting twist Blair cited the online gaming industry as a reason to support the new casinos, claiming that there would be so many avenues to gamble online that the new casinos ought not to make a huge difference.

The new casino policy has been under fire ever since Manchester was the surprise winner of the Casino Advisory Panel’s vote to be the site of the UK’s first supercasino, beating the overwhelming favourites: Blackpool and London.

Last month the casino proposal was thrown out of the House of Lords, putting the policy right back to square one.

But Blair was defiant yesterday, saying the new would be brought to the table after the May 3rd elections.