Contributions
578 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I beg to move amendment 97, in clause 7, page 5, line 27, at end insert— “(d) conflicts with any regulations or rules of international football governing bodies, including FIFA…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)The Lib Dem spokesman makes an interesting comparison. As I said in the Committee’s debate on Tuesday, my focus is on football, and I am outlining with this amendment my concerns…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [Lords] (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for that point. Transfers are a key aspect. If a club is in limbo, it could arguably be at a much bigger disadvantage when the season starts if it had not…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. That is something that we discussed at some length during the Committee’s first sitting. It is disappointing that all members of the…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I would argue very strongly that when the English football team finally wins the World cup, it will get much more out of FIFA than this country would ever get out of the European…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I believe “Blue is the colour, football is the game” is the motto in the song. That is of course Chelsea. I congratulate them, as well as Spurs, on their recent victory in Europe.…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I think I know where this is going, but go on.05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)Although I do not doubt the Minister’s sincere belief in the assurances she has given, I am afraid that unless we have evidence that gives the Opposition certainty about them, we…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)A point that is being slightly missed in this exchange is something that I mentioned in my speech: the impact and risk for clubs and whether the line is crossed. In particular,…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)Oh, here we go.05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I appreciate what the Lib Dem spokesperson is trying to do, but I point out that English football has been involved directly with the rules that have been made and continue to be…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)As we heard from the Minister, the clause relates to the transfer of staffing, resources and property to the Government’s regulator in the future. I would like to ask her—this…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I will not seek to repeat all the objectives that the Minister outlined for clause 8, but I will make some comments on each principle, and pose some questions to which I hope she…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)Clause 10 provides for what is described as a state of the game report — a new mechanism by which the Government’s regulator is expected to take stock of the health, direction and…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)It is disappointing that our amendments, which were tabled in a constructive manner, not a political one, have not been accepted. We remain concerned about some of those risks to…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I understand the Lib Dem spokesman’s point, but in my understanding, that would be the responsibility of the leagues. That is not what we are trying to block with this amendment;…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I thank my hon. Friend for making that point. That is exactly what we are trying to do. This is not a wrecking amendment; we are just trying to tighten the Bill to ensure that no…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)That fans would be happy to accept higher prices is a brave argument to make, and it is not one that we are willing to accept. More broadly, we believe that Parliament must be…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)It is rather disappointing that the Liberal Democrats and Labour seem to be against the principle of transparency for fans of the impact on ticket prices, given that the issue is…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I am not going to guess what league that club is in, but I am sure they are brilliant, whoever they are. I will not seek to offend anyone’s club by not knowing what league they…05 Jun 2025