Taking a Gamble

In the days when I wrote racing columns for the Sporting Life Weekender and the Sunday Express, I kept by my desk a well-thumbed copy of Lord Rothschild’s royal commission report on gambling.

Victor Rothschild was a polymath who served our country as scientist, intelligence officer, banker, and government advisor. His report was humane, judicious, and scrupulously researched, while its sober prose made it – by Whitehall standards – a major literary classic.

This was little surprise as other members of his commission included sports commentator David Coleman, agony aunt Marjorie Proops, and the philosopher Bernard Williams.

I wish the Prime Minister would pay attention to it.