Contributions
1,554 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)The hon. Member’s amendment follows the extensive debate regarding heraldic terminology in the other place. I can reassure him that the Government have worked closely with the…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)On the point in the amendments about 20 years, we appreciate that not all the leagues go that far, but we think that the point is addressed by the league rules. On the…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)I think that it is an issue for the leagues, but I will happily write to the hon. Gentleman. I will check that point, but I am pretty confident that it would be left to the…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)The hon. Gentleman puts his point on the record. We had a full debate in the other place, in which many Members took part. Ultimately, the amendments have no relevance to the…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)I will begin with a couple of brief points in response to the shadow Minister. However, as Sir Jeremy has just outlined, some of the shadow Minister’s points relate to schedule 4…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)We have seen too many instances of unsuitable custodians mismanaging clubs, taking risks that jeopardise a club’s long-term future, and disregarding the interests of fans and…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Wokingham for tabling new clause 15 and the hon. Member for Newbury for speaking to it, but it is already open to anyone, including all those listed in…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)My hon. Friend makes an important point; it will be proportionate. I have met with all the leagues a number of times, and this was of particular concern to the National League. It…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Clause 21 outlined the use of discretionary licence conditions, which can be used to bring clubs up to the threshold requirements for a full operating licence, if necessary. They…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for tabling the amendments, which I will take in turn in responding to the points that he made. Broadly, amendments 107 and 108 concern integral powers…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Clause 23 sets out the procedure for attaching or varying financial discretionary licence conditions on clubs, which ensures that clubs and competition organisers are notified and…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)Where possible, we want to reduce any impact on ongoing sporting competitions. The hon. Gentleman presents me with a hypothetical scenario. I think it would be best if I respond…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his contribution. We would obviously expect the regulator to build on relevant expertise internally and via consultation. I have worked with…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)Those will be an issue for the leagues; where the leagues have rules, clubs will continue to comply with them. That is not something that the regulator will be involved with.…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I am grateful to the shadow Minister for those questions. Throughout this process, we have been keen to reiterate that discretionary conditions must be proportionate to the club’s…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Clause 23 already tightly constrains the regulator’s ability to set discretionary licence conditions, and the shadow Minister’s earlier amendment sought to tighten that further,…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)The schedule outlines the mandatory licence conditions that the regulator will attach to all licences as standard, regardless of the club’s circumstances. Those conditions are…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)The clause relates to the discretionary licence conditions. Where needed, the regulator will use discretionary licence conditions to bring a club up to the required level of…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)The two I mentioned are the basic points. The regulator has the ability to ask for further information should they want it. I think I gave the example that if the regulator is…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)We have talked about the regulator engaging with a wide range of stakeholders. We anticipate throughout the Bill—in lots of clauses, not just this one—that it will absolutely…10 Jun 2025