Contributions
1,107 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFootball Governance BillI have been very intimately involved in this Bill, having put together all the policy recommendations and had discussions with all the parties. I encourage the hon. Member to read…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillI am sure that over the course of this debate many Members will raise issues of concern to them and their constituents. I emphasise that the Bill is about financial regulation,…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillWe looked closely at precedents elsewhere, particularly in regulatory fields, when forming the basis of the Bill. We have always been conscious that we are regulating in a…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillThere does not need to be a nuance. The whole point of this legislation is to protect fans, communities and clubs. At the heart of that is making sure that clubs are financially…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillWe believe that parachute payments have a role to play, although I know people have concerns about distortion. Under the Bill, if there is any issue relating to the finances of a…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillThe regulator will have significant powers in relation to individual clubs and, when triggered by either the Premier League or the EFL, to the leagues themselves. It will have…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillYes. This Bill is all about ensuring that the owners and directors of clubs are fit and proper people, so that what happened to the hon. Gentleman’s club, which I was at just a…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillYes, that is right; the regulator has to take into account the views of fans and look at the proposals. If it considers the proposals to be good, that change can take place. Under…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillIn the next part of my speech, I am going to pay tribute to a large number of Members who have played a considerable part. My right hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Stuart…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillAll the measures in the Bill, cumulatively, will ensure that clubs are well managed and run; therefore, they will be there and will not go into financial insolvency and…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillAs my hon. Friend knows, the Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Stuart Andrew), and I have spent time looking at…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillTo address the point about the Bill being long overdue, the Labour party said for some time that it would do something about this issue but did absolutely nothing. Since I have…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillMy right hon. and learned Friend is absolutely right: that was a tremendous match. It shows the importance of the football pyramid, and how it delights and disappoints fans across…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillThe Bill identifies a number of things that we know are important to fans, including heritage assets such as the colour of shirts, badges and the location of a club’s stadium. We…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillWe understand that parachute payments have a role to play. There is provision in the Bill to deal with parachute payments, but that provision relates to the consideration on a…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillI recognise the concerns raised about parachute payments and the distortion of competition. On the backstop powers, parachute payments have been included because of the way that…23 Apr 2024HANSARDFootball Governance BillMy hon. Friend is absolutely right, because those David and Goliath fixtures are part of the magic of football. I know that replays have been a welcome source of income for…23 Apr 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsI am very pleased to congratulate Portsmouth football club on its success. My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the importance of local clubs and what they do in their…18 Apr 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy hon. Friend is right to raise this very exciting opportunity for Bedfordshire, which I am pleased to have discussed with him. We are liaising closely with the Treasury, and I…18 Apr 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsFirst, I extend my congratulations to Romford football club on reaching the final of the FA vase—it is a wonderful achievement and I wish the team the best of luck at Wembley. On…18 Apr 2024