Contributions
578 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)As promised, I will leave out the pleasantries, Sir Jeremy, but you can take it as read that it is always a pleasure to speak under your chairmanship.03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I beg to move amendment 132, in clause 2, page 2, line 31, leave out subsection (3) and insert— “(3) For the purposes of this Act a ‘specified competition’ includes— (a) the…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I will. It depends on how long we go on for today. In all seriousness, the Government have not been specific in this clause regarding their key definitions, and have clearly left…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)It is an honour to speak again under your chairmanship, Sir Jeremy—I promise the Committee that I will not say that every time. The Opposition do not disagree with much of the…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I wish to press the amendments to Divisions. Question put, That the amendment be made.03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)It is always a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Jeremy. I am pleased to be opening the first sitting of this important Committee on behalf of His Majesty’s official…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I beg to move amendment 95, in clause 1, page 1, line 4, leave out subsection (1) and insert— “(1) The purpose of this Act is to protect the financial sustainability and success…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests.03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)This is turning into whataboutery whinery, and I fear that I am already testing your patience, Sir Jeremy. I am trying to stick to the Bill in front of us, and why we tabled these…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I appreciate the point made by the Liberal Democrat spokesman. I will say that, though the Liberal Democrats like to avoid this point, they were in coalition with the…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)That is a well-made point. I have said in previous public comments that the BBC is an important example of how this can go wrong. I thought that the Government might have learned…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I have tabled a number of amendments for Members to consider, and I believe the theme of the amendments is clear. My hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight East alluded to some…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I beg to move amendment 117, schedule 2, page 87, line 12, at end insert— “3A Any political interests of, and political donations made by, the prospective chair of the Board, must…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)As I said, I am not sure what the argument is against the point that I am making, which is that donations should be made very clear.03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)The clause formally establishes the Independent Football Regulator as a statutory body, providing the legal foundation for the IFR’s existence and marking a significant moment in…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I want to flesh out the point that I tried to make, although I appreciate what the Minister said about coming to this later. Why this is not defined at this point is key, because,…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Thank you, Sir Jeremy; I appreciate your steer. My point is about definitions, but I appreciate that we will talk later about the scope of the Bill and the suitability of owners.…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Great. While Millwall fans have enjoyed the success of international ownership through the Berylson family and the late John Berylson, who tragically passed away, those who…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)Yes, we also have Portsmouth. This rivalry—the kind of blend I mentioned—is obviously true of my own family: half blue, half red. To be clear, that is only in football terms,…03 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (First sitting)I will start with clause 3, which deals with the broad definitions of an “owner” within the context of this legislation, as the Minister has just set out. While it may appear…03 Jun 2025