Last month, Andy Burnham spoke of pubs as a core part of Britain’s heritage and being at the heart of working-class culture.

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He's right - but he could have been speaking about bingo.

It's true that pubs matter. They are the heart and soul of communities and where memories are made. They deserve to be protected. But Britain's social life does not end at the pub door.

Across the country, bingo clubs are just as much a part of our national story. They are places where hundreds of thousands of people meet friends, celebrate birthdays, enjoy an affordable night out and, yes, hope for a little bit of luck along the way.

With that in mind, bingo clubs seemed like an omission from the list of venues mentioned in the Government's business rates support........

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