Mr Louie French

Mr Louie French

Conservative — Old Bexley and Sidcup

Speaking in the House of Commons on 3 April 2025

Debate

Rugby League

Contribution

Thank you, Mr Speaker; I am happy to declare it. We lost a lot of games back then. The return of the ashes is welcome news for rugby league, but while the next generation will be inspired by the series, the Labour Government have dropped the ball. Encouraging grassroots participation is key to the future of all sports and community clubs across the country, but Labour has cut the £57 million opening school facilities fund, £21 million of investment in multi-sports grassroots facilities, and ended the £25 million Lionesses futures fund that invested in facilities to support women and girls’ sport. Arguably, the biggest owngoal for grassroots sport is the removal of planning protections for sports pitches across England. Why is it only the Conservatives who will protect grassroots clubs and the sports pitches that Labour wants to concrete over?

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