MP calls on government to back sport

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has written to Oliver Dowden – the Culture Secretary – asking for further support for top-level rugby clubs.

The MP says that Bath Rugby and other Gallagher Premiership clubs are losing between £750,000 and £1m per month, through lack of crowd receipts.

The letter follows on from last month, when Bath’s MP asked the Leader of the House, Jacob ReesMogg in Parliament, to support grassroots sports – specifically advocating on behalf of Bath City Football Club.

The MP said: “As we go into another lockdown, we must look to our recovery. Bath is a city made so much richer by our excellent sports clubs. Bath Rugby have proved they can safely admit fans. Allowing theatres to have spectators but not allowing sports matches to have the same is both inconsistent and weakens peoples inclination to listen to government.

“If the government continues its ban on fans after December 2, when this most recent lockdown will finish, then it must provide meaningful support to the game.

“We must not put clubs in the position where they are unable to plot a course through this crisis. For cities such as Bath that would be a disaster. Our big venues and clubs do so much for our city, yet the pandemic restrictions have meant that they have been starved of cash, whilst the cost of doing anything safely has gone up.”

Today the MP is inviting people to join a public Zoom meeting with Bath Rugby, Bath City FC, Bath Racecourse and Team Bath on her website www.werahobhouse.co. uk. She said: “We’ll be looking at how Covid-19 has affected all of our sporting venues and clubs, and assessing what this latest lockdown announcement will mean for the sports clubs we know and love.”