Lee Dillon MP: speeches

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Speeches

2 Jul 2025 · Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism · Hansard source
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Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?
2 Jul 2025 · Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism · Hansard source
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I am the MP for Newbury, where we have Greenham Common, which is now peaceful but had cruise missiles. Greenham Common peace women broke into the base and attacked jets with hammers, and they were prosecuted under criminal law. They were held to account. Does the hon. Member agree that under this Government, even Greenham peace women could have been considered a terrorist organisation?
24 Jun 2025 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government · Hansard source
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I congratulate the Chair of the Select Committee on securing the debate, and on the robustness of her speech holding the Government to account. The Department covers many areas and councils themselves cover more than 700 services, but I shall concentrate on housing, hopefully in the spirit of constructive opposition. Like many others who are in the Chamber today, I support the Government’s headline ambition to build 1.5 million homes—it is a goal that I share, as do many in the housing sector—but I remain concerned that the Government are still unwilling, or unable, to answer my question about how many of those homes will be genuinely affordable. Far too many people across the country are priced out of home ownership, with house prices rising at an unsustainable rate.
24 Jun 2025 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government · Hansard source
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My hon. Friend will know the needs of her constituency better than I do, but as someone who worked in social housing for 14 years, I will always advocate for the delivery of more social housing units. In my constituency of Newbury, the average house price in April was £398,000—up by 6.2% on the previous year. Owning a home is fast becoming a distant dream not just in west Berkshire, but across the country. Although I welcome the target for new homes, I urge the Government to make affordability central to their plans. The homes we build must reflect the needs of real people, not just developers or investors. I was pleased to see the allocation of £39 billion over a 10-year period in the recent spending review—one of the most ambitious long-term investments in affordable housing for decades. I hope that it kick-starts the generational step change that we need to deliver affordable homes, but it must include council homes and social rented homes. We Liberal Democrats have been clear that we need 150,000 social homes built every year—homes that people can genuinely afford and that are linked to local infrastructure and services. Sadly, with the reduction of neighbourhood planning, that will now be less likely to happen. I challenge the Government to match their ambition by setting their own target for social housing delivery. Without that, our housing mix will be dictated by the private market, and that is simply not a viable solution to the housing crisis we face. I also welcome the £13.2 billion commitment to the warm homes plan. The decision by the Conservatives to scrap our home installation policies have had a real cost, and an estimated 1.6 million homes have been built with lower energy efficiency and higher bills as a result—a Conservative legacy. With 6.1 million households now in fuel poverty, we must act urgently to fix Britain’s cold and leaky housing stock. As the hon. Member for Milton Keynes North (Chris Curtis) said, the spending review included a 10-year social rent settlement at CPI plus 1%, which I again welcome. Housing associations have long been calling for that, and I am grateful that the Government have listened. That is a positive move, but we must ensure that rents remain affordable and that social landlords are held to account. We cannot allow social rents to drift higher and tenants to be priced out once again, and let us not forget the 1.5 million people who are still waiting for social housing. As the Member of Parliament for Newbury and a member of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, I will continue to hold this Government to account—not just on how many homes they build, but on how many people they help.
20 Jun 2025 · Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill · Hansard source
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Will the hon. Gentleman give way?
17 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source
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I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. New clause 22 relates to a consultation on changes to kick-off times. For football fans across the country, last-minute changes to suit TV schedules have a direct impact on their plans for that sporting event, whether having to procure a hotel because they cannot get home from the game as public transport is not running, or having to change their whole plan and maybe resell their ticket. The 2025 FA cup final had a kick-off time of 4.30 pm, and in the year Wigan beat Man City it was a 5 pm kick-off time. The last train to leave for Manchester from London is at 9.01 pm. So if the FA cup final this year had gone to extra time and penalties, fans would not have been able to make that last train back home to Manchester. As a Manchester United fan, I am not one for protecting City fans, but it just seems ludicrous that for the 2025 FA cup final, the BBC wanted to keep the kick-off at 3 pm because it had Eurovision later that night to schedule and ITV wanted a 5.30 pm kick-off because it knew that would increase its revenue. Both clubs were consulted, the broadcasters were consulted, but the fans were not. This clause seeks for the regulator to have a role in adjudicating on kick-off times. Listening to the Minister in response to other amendments, I was concerned she may consider ruling out this clause out because it affects commercial activity and broadcasters. I am now hoping it falls under the purview of operational and match day issues, and the regulator will have power to intervene.
17 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source
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I am disappointed in the Minister’s response. I think it is a crucial aspect. However, noting the numbers in the room, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn . New Clause 23 Duty to create emergency fund (1) As a condition of purchase of a regulated club the new owner may, if required by the IFR, pay an amount equal to the club's quarterly forecast expenditure into an emergency fund (referred to in this section as “the fund”). (2) Withdrawals cannot be made from the fund while the person who deposited the fund is the owner of the club. (3) When a club’s quarterly forecast expenditure increases the owner must increase their deposit into the fund to match the increased forecast. (4) If an owner does not update the fund to match an increase in the club’s quarterly forecast expenditure the IFR may suspend the regulated club’s operating licence until such time as the required deposit into the fund has been made. (5) When a club files for insolvency the owner abrogates all claim to the fund and the fund may be accessed to pay club salaries and day to day running costs. (6) When the owner who deposited the fund sells the club they may withdraw the fund but the fund must first be used to repay any debts accrued during the time period they were the owner.”— (Mr Dillon.) This new clause gives the IFR an option to require new club owners to establish an emergency fund to provide for club operational costs such as player and staff wages in an emergency scenario. Brought up, and read the First time .
17 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source
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It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mr Turner. People can sit on the terraces at Twickenham and watch rugby union while having a pint of Guinness. Does my hon. Friend agree that that causes no concern around behaviour, and could easily be transferred to the football stadium?
17 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source
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I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. Many clubs already have excellent community outreach programmes and foundations with which they support their local communities. This is a simple new clause that just seeks the regulator’s ability to report on those involvements. I suspect that it would not push any existing club into having to engage, because I believe that they already engage with their communities. It is more about capturing that and selling to the wider public the benefits from the investment that football clubs make in their communities.
17 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source
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I thank the Minister for her response, and I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. New Clause 25 Youth and community projects: duty on the IFR “(1) The IFR must take steps to encourage regulated clubs to invest in youth and community projects. (2) The IFR must, in pursuance of the duty in subsection (1), at least once a year report on the extent to which each regulated club has invested in youth and community projects.”— (Mr Dillon.) This new clause requires the Independent Football Regulator to take steps to encourage clubs to invest in youth and community projects, including through annual publication of a progress report. Brought up, and read the First time.
17 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source
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I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time. This new clause introduces a duty to create an emergency fund if the regulator has concerns over the financial resources of a particular owner. If a player is not paid for two consecutive months, then under FIFA regulations they have the ability to terminate their contract with 14 days’ notice. However, that still means they are out of pocket. We know that there are real consequences from players not being paid, such as the contract termination that they may go through, the player and the fans having a loss of confidence in that club, and of course financial distress to individuals not paid. Clubs can have point deductions if they do not play players on time and registration embargoes as well. However, that still does not address the issue of the player and staff not being paid. As recently as March this year, the team of the hon. Member for Sheffield South East, Sheffield Wednesday, did not pay its players on time. This is a live issue that we see season in, season out. An emergency fund would mean that players could have recourse to be paid on time.
17 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Tenth sitting) · Hansard source
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I thank the Minister for her response, and welcome the recognition of clubs’ community work in the governance statements. The new clause would add a requirement around youth because, whether on literacy or childhood obesity, football clubs have a unique power to engage young people through their very presence as a shining example to look up to. However, I accept the Minister’s remarks, and beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Clause, by leave, withdrawn. Question proposed, That the Chair do report the Bill, as amended, to the House.
13 Jun 2025 · Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill · Hansard source
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I hear the argument from hon. Members on both sides of the Chamber about palliative care in this country not being at the level that we would expect, and I accept that. What I do not hear from those who oppose the Bill is exactly what level we need so that assisted dying can go hand in hand with it as a genuine option.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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On the allocation of the levy, the Minister said that the top six teams would cover the majority. Can she point to where that is in the Bill? Is it the top six financially or in league positions?
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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It is a privilege to serve under your chairship, Ms Butler. New clause 24, tabled in my name, seeks to introduce a fair and transparent exemption procedure for football clubs in administration. When a football club enters administration, it is not merely a financial event; it is often a crisis that rocks the entire community, as we saw in Bury. Supporters, many of whom have been lifelong followers, are left facing uncertainty and fear for the future of their club, which is often the heartbeat of their town or city. New clause 24 seeks to strike a vital balance by maintaining the integrity of the levy while allowing compassionate and evidence-based interventions when a club is on its knees. It would ensure that exemptions are not handed out indiscriminately, and that the regulator must assess each case on its merits and satisfy itself that the club’s financial difficulties are not a calculated move to evade its levy responsibilities. Most importantly, the new clause would give clubs a chance.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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Similar to the challenge to my amendment on what consultation looked like, this amendment is silent on how a majority of the club’s fans is worked out. I wonder whether the hon. Member could address that point.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Butler. Clause 49 is an important part of the Bill, particularly if we look at recent history. We saw Cardiff City unilaterally changing the colour of their kit and the Leeds United club badge redesigned using something similar to Microsoft Paint. All that was done without consultation or agreement with fans. Both those decisions were met with overwhelming negative reaction from football fans. Our amendment would allow for fans to be properly consulted before such irresponsible and poorly supported changes even see the light of day. The regulator should be responsible for ensuring that the consultation of fans on such changes is independently observed in a fair and transparent process. In this morning’s debate, the hon. Member for Sheffield South East raised the point about what consultation and fan engagement mean. This amendment tries to get to that in some respect. It would be all too easy for some clubs to hand-pick a small group of fans that they know will agree with them and make an announcement claiming overwhelming support for a change. If the regulator is able to observe the process, fans can be reassured in the knowledge that the proposals will be given proper scrutiny and challenging views will be heard and considered.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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We are happy to put the onus on the regulator to create a process by which it can reassure itself that a full consultation process has been undertaken. That consultation process could look different for different teams. A Premier League club has a country-wide fan base and a large amount of fans to engage with, whereas a smaller club might have a regional fan base and a smaller number of fans to engage with, so a different consultation method may be appropriate. We would be happy for the regulator to have that in its purview.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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I appreciate the shadow Minister’s response to my previous intervention, but he did not answer how many clubs currently within scope of the Bill have fewer than 10 employees. Just out of interest, does he know how many would benefit from his amendment?
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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I beg to move amendment 140, in clause 49, page 40, line 31, at end insert— “(1A) A regulated club must notify the IFR if it is considering making any material changes under subsection (1) and the IFR must monitor the reasonable steps taken to independently establish that the changes are supported by a majority of the club’s fans.”. This amendment would require the IFR to take steps to independently oversee a club’s fan consultation process on the material changes specified.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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Is the shadow Minister aware of how many clubs within the scope of the Bill currently have fewer than 10 full-time employees? Players are club employees, so they would need to be excluded from that number.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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On a point of order, Ms Butler. I do not think we have withdrawn or taken a decision on the new clauses. I am happy to withdraw mine, but this is just for formality.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting) · Hansard source
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I thank the Minister for her response. Although the Bill tackles financial sustainability, it has a real ability to rebuild trust between fans and football clubs. I feel that all three amendments are still worthy of being pressed to a vote, and I commend amendment 140 to the Committee. Question put, That the amendment be made.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source
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The hon. Gentleman’s amendments find support from the Liberal Democrats. He referenced training grounds, and Reading football club’s training ground, Bearwood Park, was actually in that exact position. The owner tried to sell it off because it was prime land for residential development. However, without that training facility, the club would clearly struggle to continue. There was even the potential to sell the training ground to rivals Wycombe Wanderers, so that they could then have an enhanced training ground. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Liberal Democrats have tabled new clause 11, which seeks to protect various assets of a football club, including the training ground, so he has our support.
12 Jun 2025 · Football Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source
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It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Butler. Pre-season friendlies constitute cup competitions all the time. There is the Audi cup; any major brand we could name will have sponsored friendly cups. When the Minister gives the hon. Gentleman assurance on the Pyongyang cup, perhaps she might also cover the friendly cups that actually exist.

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