Fan-led Review and Football White Paper Debate

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Fan-led Review and Football White Paper

Anna Firth Excerpts
Monday 20th February 2023

(1 year, 2 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Stuart Andrew Portrait Stuart Andrew
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The hon. Gentleman will have to see what is in the White Paper when we publish it this week.

Anna Firth Portrait Anna Firth (Southend West) (Con)
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I absolutely welcome the Minister’s statement and the Government’s commitment to implementing the fan-led review, because although next month marks the first anniversary of Southend becoming a city, our treasured football club, Southend United, faces severe financial difficulties. Supporters’ clubs have done a huge amount, but will the Minister meet me to discuss what the Government can do, if anything, to help? Will he also confirm that the upcoming White Paper will address the hugely unfair redistribution of Premier League solidarity payments, which is one of the reasons why Southend United is in the position that it is?

Stuart Andrew Portrait Stuart Andrew
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I commend my hon. Friend for her work, particularly in support of her local football club. I would be more than happy to meet her. I can assure her that we are taking action exactly because of examples such as the one she raises, as she will see in the White Paper when we publish it.