After reading a report in the Watford Observer regarding our MP Richard Harrington’s views on the Chancellor’s budget speech (Budget fails to protect residents, October 2), I have a feeling of disappointment that our MP welcomes the budget. How anyone can support the Chancellor’s decision to delay curbs on addictive gambling machines is beyond me. This decision is about one thing - the £120 million this government would lose before a new tax on offshore gaming is brought in. For years this government has been fully aware of these fixed-odds betting terminals, (FOBTs) which are known as the crack cocaine of gambling. I just wonder how many more suicides we will see before our Chancellor and his government reverse their decision.

I urge our MP Richard Harrington to speak to the Chancellor and advise him to scrap his plans of delaying curbs on addictive gambling machines and to implement as quickly as possible a reduction in the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals from £100 to £2. How many more people will die because of the delays?

Ernie Mackenzie

Gammons Lane, Watford