Contributions
1,554 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for his amendment, and I thank the hon. Members for Cheltenham and for Newbury for their new clauses. I acknowledge the intent behind them. We will…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)There is no cap. However, I draw the hon. Gentleman’s attention to the regulatory principles we addressed earlier in the Bill. Obviously, the regulator needs to be proportionate…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)I thank hon. Members for tabling the amendments to clause 49. We will discuss the clause in more detail in the clause stand part debate, so I will reserve some of my comments…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)We expect the regulator to look at this on a case-by-case basis. As we have said throughout, we very much intend for the regulator to be proportionate depending on where a club…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)During our debate on the technical changes proposed by the Government, we discussed the removal of the non-leviable functions. That means that everything will be levy-funded, so…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I will double-check that point, but I believe they would. I also refer to the points we discussed earlier in the Committee: clubs may want to move for a particular, legitimate…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I thank my hon. Friend for tabling the amendments. Home grounds are a vital asset for all clubs, so I do understand his intent. Regarding changes to the ownership of a home…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I appreciate that point, but the sale of home grounds is a primarily financial decision, separate from the decision about where the club actually plays its games. That is why…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)This clause sets out the duty on regulated and formally regulated clubs not to appoint an administrator without approval from the regulator. This is to ensure that administration…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I thank my hon. Friend tabling the amendment. It seeks a number of things: extending the clause to include training grounds; guaranteeing long-term use of home grounds and/or…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I completely appreciate the shadow Minister’s comments. As I said in my opening remarks, we do not ban all international competitions automatically. We are mindful of enabling…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East for tabling his amendments. Prior to speaking to them, I would like to let him know that I have raised his points on a…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I do not want to get drawn into hypotheticals. As we previously discussed, there might be a perfectly legitimate reason for a club to move—or to move temporarily, such as for…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)As discussed during the debate on the previous amendments, clause 46 serves as an important protection for the home ground of a club. It requires clubs to gain the approval of the…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)It is a pleasure to serve once again under your chairship, Ms Butler. I echo the welcome back from the shadow Minister, the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup, to Committee…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I will address that point in just a moment. As a club’s licence is separate from its owners, the licence is held directly by the club itself, not its owners. The removal of an…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I am grateful to Members for their contributions and will take their points in turn. The clause applies both to existing and to new competitions. If any competition breaches the…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)No, of course we do not. I totally agree. I was coming to that point. As I understand it, friendlies would be out of scope, but I am happy to write to Committee members if they…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)That was so bad.12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for his points, to which I will respond briefly. There are no changes in the bit of the Bill that we are talking about compared with the previous Bill,…12 Jun 2025