MP vows not to make calls relating to football watchdog, despite Sir Keir Starmer refusing to do the same
A cabinet minister has vowed not to make decisions relating to a football watchdog despite the Prime Minister refusing to do the same.
A cabinet minister has vowed not to make decisions relating to a football watchdog despite the Prime Minister refusing to do the same.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, who was given four tickets for a Taylor Swift concert worth £3,440 by the Premier League in August, said he would not be allowed to ‘advocate’ for them if the situation arose.
However Downing Street has confirmed that, despite the PM declaring £12,588 of gifts from the Premier League – who want to water down the watchdog’s proposed powers – he can still be involved with decisions around the Football Governance Bill.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones has promised not to have input on the football watchdog
His decision comes after he was gifted four tickets to Taylor Swifts (Pictured) record-breaking Eras Tour worth £3,440 from the Premier League
Fears have been that the Prime Minister is being lobbied to water down the new football watchdog as he continues to accept free tickets to matches.
Last season the Prime Minister was gifted top tear seats at matches which were valued at an eye-watering £9,500.
The Premier League also paid for five of his tickets amounting to a total of £3,000 to see his favourite team Arsenal, as well as four Taylor Swift tickets worth £4,000.
And it was only a week ago the Labour leader went to watch his beloved side play their rivals Tottenham Hotspurs in the company of a lobbyist who backed a breakaway European Super League , which the new regulator could block, The Mail on Sunday revealed at the weekend.
The Tories urged the PM to recuse himself from making decisions on the football regulator, with a spokesman adding: ‘Ministers accepting enormous donations should not also make fundamental changes to regulations.
‘That’s just common sense. There is a clear conflict of interest in Starmer’s behaviour. His grace-and-favour hospitality box alone doesn’t pass the smell test.’
A Labour source previously said: Just because someones been to a few matches, that shouldnt prevent them from having a say in legislation in that area. People will have to wait to see what comes out at the end of the process.
However despite the PM (Pictured with his wife Lady Victoria Starmer) declaring £12,588 of gifts from the Premier League, he will still be involved with decisions regarding the Football Governance Bill
Last season the Prime Minister was gifted top tear seats at football matches which were valued at an eye-watering £9,500 (Pictured: Keir Starmer celebrating Arsenals goal against Wolverhampton in August)
However smaller clubs are worried the Prime Minister could reduce the chances of the new watchdog bridging the financial divide with the bigger clubs.
They are concerned that once the Football Governance Bill is released next month, a crucial claus, which would allow the body to redistribute hundreds of millions of in parachute payments will be ring-fenced for a select number of relegated clubs.
When the legislation was originally published under the Tory government, parachute payments were excluded from the backstop mechanism that could be triggered if the leagues fail to agree a financial settlement.
Labour MPs, then in opposition, drew up an amendment allowing the watchdog to include the payments but it is unclear if the new government remains committed to this.
Charlie Methven, chief executive of Charlton Athletic, said: This is a clear conflict of interest, and a pretty drastic one at that.
Government sources insist the Prime Minister is yet to make any decisions regarding the football watchdogs financial powers and is yet to have a conversation with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy (Pictured)
The decision as to whether to include parachute payments in the remit of the regulator is a massive multi-billion-pound decision, which neither Keir Starmer nor anybody who works in No 10 Downing Street should seek to have any influence over, given the lavish financial benefits received and which continue to be received.
If Labours previous commitment to include the parachute payments has been overturned, then there would need to be an inquiry.
However government sources are adamant no decisions have been made regarding the watchdogs financial powers, adding that Keir was yet to speak with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy about the legislation.
A spokesman for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport previously said: The Bill will establish a new independent football regulator that will put fans back at the heart of the game and tackle fundamental governance problems.
