Andy Burnham has announced plans to give local councils in England, Wales and Scotland greater powers to block new betting shops, adult gaming centres and vape shops from opening on high streets. The move would scrap the "aim to permit" rule in the Gambling Act 2005, which currently obliges councils to approve new gambling premises that meet licensing requirements, marking a bigger shift than the more limited reforms introduced by his predecessor, Keir Starmer, in April.

Under the proposals, vape shops would be moved into their own planning category, meaning councils could assess and reject individual applications rather than allowing them to open as they currently do, similar to cafes or banks. Ministers also plan to tighten the legal definition of a vape shop and introduce rules preventing them from opening near schools. A six-week consultation is planned, with the measures potentially in force by early 2027; the push follows research warning Labour could face electoral backlash unless it addresses high street decline, though experts noted online retail's growing dominance means the policy alone will not solve the problem.