10:50am Thursday 18th February 2010
IT was no surprise to find MPs debating an issue over which they have absolutely no power, but have they ever been more depressed about their impotence?
This time, it was not some far-flung calamity under discussion – in Darfur, the Congo, or Burma, where Westminster’s influence is sadly lacking – but the national game itself.
Football.
MPs lined up to lambast the damage inflicted on their local team by the ruthless, money-obsessed modern game, be it Portsmouth, Cardiff City, Southend United, Crystal Palace, Chester City, Stockport County...
There was a mention of the plight of York City, which city MP Hugh Bayley bemoaned “was almost brought to its knees” by its private owners. He explained: “There was a disastrous period when one chairman of the club split the club from the ground, so that if it went under he would have a property development opportunity.”
Shame there was no MP there to tell the similarly grisly tale of Darlington FC under its colourful former owner, George Reynolds.
Much time was also spent on Liverpool and Manchester United, those debt-ridden giants teetering on the brink of disaster because of infamous “leveraged” buy-outs.
Tony Lloyd, a Manchester MP, spoke for the Chamber when he said: “Our ministers have a responsibility. We can no longer accept a hands-off approach from central government.”
Well, accept it they must because it is clear the Government is more than happy to let our football clubs “live the dream” – no matter how many times it becomes a nightmare.
Briefly, it seemed different when former Culture Secretary Andy Burnham – an Everton fanatic – set the football authorities seven specific questions designed to “reassess its relationship with money”. It was Mr Burnham who, before entering Parliament, secured government backing for Supporters Direct, which has helped fans form trusts to run troubled clubs, including York.
In 2008, it appeared the Premier League might finally be forced to confront cowboy club owners, eye-watering ticket prices, the yawning gap between rich and poorer clubs and those terrifying debts.
But Mr Burnham moved on to become Health Secretary and the Premier League performed a nutmeg to make Cristiano Ronaldo proud, easily staying in total control.
Back in the Chamber last week Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe was elsewhere, leaving it to Digital Economy Minister Sion Simon to reply on behalf of the Government.
The Birmingham minister seemed more concerned with Aston Villa’s appearance in this month’s Carling Cup Final, telling MPs: “I am short of two tickets.”
And he added: “It is not for the Government to tell the football community how they should go about regulating their affairs...”
SO, it appears the discredited Barnett Formula – that so penalises the North- East and enriches Scotland – will definitely be reviewed if the Conservatives win in May.
But why am I still suspicious?
The words of Shadow Chancellor George Osborne – “I would start with a needs-based assessment across the UK. Before you decide the fate of Barnett, you have to have the facts in front you” – seemed unequivocal.
But they were delivered in Wales, which also loses out under the formula. When David Cameron spoke in Barnett-friendly Scotland the following day, he never mentioned the thorny issue...
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