This column appeared in the Friday 16th May 2025 edition of the South London Press.
I recently celebrated 10 years as MP for Lewisham North (formerly Lewisham Deptford). I can’t believe how quickly that time has flown by! It’s certainly made me reflect on everything my Labour colleagues and I have achieved, and how determined we are to make positive changes now we are finally in government.
One of the big new laws making its way through Parliament at the moment is the Football Governance Bill. Football clubs are vital to our communities and I think it’s pretty safe to assume that a lot of South London Press readers are football fans (although I doubt you will agree on which club is the best!).
Millwall’s ground, The Den, is right on the edge of my constituency. I have visited many times over the years and seen the hard work the club has put into engaging positively not only with fans, but also with the local community. It has also been fantastic to see the women’s team – the Lionesses – getting more recognition.
Sadly, however, over the last few years we’ve seen several cherished English clubs go under due to financial mismanagement and the Government is determined to stop that from happening.
The Football Governance Bill will establish an independent football regulator and new rules to protect clubs, empower fans and keep clubs at the heart of their communities. It will tackle rogue owners and directors, bring in a club licensing regime to help ensure more consistency in how clubs are run, monitor club finances and improve fan engagement. Clubs will also be required to consult their supporters on ticket prices and any proposals to relocate their home ground.
This new law is being brought in by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and as the whip for that department I am very involved with helping it on its journey through the House of Commons.
It has already passed its second reading, which is the first opportunity MPs get to debate and vote on the main principles of a bill. I am now in the process of nominating MPs to be members of the bill committee, which will sit for 14 sessions next month. This is the point at which the legislation and any proposed amendments are examined in close detail by a small group of cross-party MPs. After that, all MPs will have another chance to debate and vote on the bill in the Commons.
I’m excited to be part of this change. Football is such a huge part of our national culture, and we should be doing everything we can to ensure that clubs – at all levels of the football pyramid – can not only survive but thrive and grow.