MPs want takeover answers from Government

MPS and fan groups have called for more information from the Government over the scale of its involvement in the Newcastle United takeover saga.

After the Chronicle revealed there were meetings between the Premier League and Foreign Office earlier this year to discuss the takeover, North East MPs Chi Onwurah and Ian Mearns have questioned why such details have not been disclosed until now.

The Labour representatives for Newcastle Central and Gateshead respectively have called for more transparency for those in charge about what happened during the summer.

A prospective £300million takeover of f the Magpies eventually collapsed as the would-be buyers – made up of financier Amanda Staveley, property magnates the Reuben brothers and Saudi audi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – pulled out, citing delays in approving the deal.

The news sparked outrage on Tyneside with fans furious at the lack of transparency surrounding the entire process, which saw the bid fail to go past the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test.

A series of Freedom of f Information requests were re sent out to a number of government departments, such as the Foreign Office, Department for International Trade, Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Cabinet Office.

Ms Onwurah and Mr Mearns have been left disappointed with the responses from the government and Premier League following our Freedom of Information requests which prompted the release of the documents.

Ms Onwurah said: “Congratulations to the Chronicle for its investigative journalism.

“More than 20,000 worried fans signed my petition following the collapse of the Newcastle takeover this summer.

“The Premier League takeover process lacks transparency, accountability and consistency and fans feel they have no voice.

“Knowing the Foreign Office held meetings with the Premier League and the content of those meetings is hidden behind redacted documents adds further concern to fans who want to know what happened.

“If the PL wanted to meet the Government to know they were on the same page, surely the public, and Newcastle fans in particular, have a right to know what page they were on?”

The Newcastle-supporting MP hit out the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport last month for what she deemed a ‘wholly inadequate’ response to the aforementioned petition.

Mr Mearns told the Chronicle he questioned what the government would define as ‘non-involvement’ in the takeover process, given documents seen by us show three departments offering contributions to the Premier League during the same meeting in June.

M Mr Mearns said: “In pa parliament, Oliver D Dowden, the Secretary of S State for the D Department of Culture, M Media and Sport, told the ho house he would not be inter intervening to block the takeover takeover.

“However, if as it seems the Foreign Office, DCMS and the Department for International Trade were all involved in discussions with the Premier League, how does that co constitute non non-involvement?

“I don’t understand why the Premier League would believe they would need to be co consulting the Foreign Off Office about anything with regard regards the takeover as the department they would normally have contact with would be the DCMS.

“It seems to me the Premier League, by just having a discussion with the Foreign Office about the proposed takeover, has gone well beyond their remit.”

Ms Onwurah and Mr Mearns have been just two of several MPs inundated with letters from constituents regarding the failed takeover and alongside the Newcastle United Supporters Trust have been fighting for clarity on what happened.

Chairman of the NUST Greg Tomlinson, called on the government and Premier League to reveal just what was said in the meetings they held about the attempted buy-out.

“Questions need to be asked as to whether the answers provided by the Premier League were transparent when discussing outside influence on their takeover considerations.

“We need transparency on what went on - primarily from the Premier League but the Government could also provide some of these answers.”