What’s the point of a sports minister? This was the first question to Tracey Crouch MP, who carried out the role between 2015 and 2019, before resigning on a point of principle - a rare thing these days - over the government’s delay in acting to reduce the harms inflicted by fixed odds betting terminals in betting shops. The conversation ranges from how things work in Westminster, or don’t, the role of lobbying, the limits of government power and the peculiar remit of the sports portfolio. There’s plenty of other stuff too, like her Spurs fandom - yet another high profile sports biz person who supports the right side - and the future of women’s football in the UK.Our thanks to The Playbook for helping organise this podcast and for hosting us at their brand new offices in Farringdon.

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