Thread: populist politics - Cameron PMQ

Now putting to one side that I am a Southampton supporter, I can't believe that politicians are getting involved in trying to keep an insolvent company afloat in such a blatant and unfair (to other companies) manner.

Portsmouth Football Club today welcomed a call by Prime Minister David Cameron for HMRC to work with the club to help it survive.

Cameron told the House of Commons that it was vital the club continued and that HMRC should meet with the club to discuss its tax bill.

Pompey face a winding-up petition from HMRC on February 20. The club is seeking new owners and wants HMRC to give it more time to find a solution to its financial issues.

The club’s future was raised by Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt during Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons.

She said: “If a local supermarket closes down another quickly takes its place. If Portsmouth Football Club closes down, the Pompey fans will not be content with buying their season tickets from Southampton.

“Will the Prime Minister add his voice to mine in calling for HMRC to meet with the club so it recoups the taxes it’s owed, that our club survives and that the fans have their chance to become its owners.”

Cameron responded: “I will certainly do that. I think she is absolutely right to raise this issue. Knowing one or two Pompey fans I can completely understand.

“The idea that they can go and support Southampton is completely incredible. We must do all we can to keep this friendly rivalry going.”

In learning of the support from Parliament, Pompey chief executive David Lampitt said: “I would like to place on record our thanks to Penny Mordaunt and to the Prime Minister for supporting the efforts of the club and its supporters in pursuing an exit route from its current circumstances.

“We will continue to do everything we can to that end, including working with HMRC and other creditors to ensure that the club has the time it needs.”

Portsmouth Football Club | News

While I understand why the local MP for Pompey raised the question at PMQ, the answer given is totally unacceptable. Coupled to the fact that Mrs Mordaunt's husband works for HMRC and she claims to have seen documents pertaining to this case, I really can't see why HMG would want to get involved with a company that went into adminstration 2 years ago with debts of £130 million (and stiffing the tax payer to the tune of about £30m) and is on the verge of liquidation now.

Is it really the place of Government to get involved with football clubs? Have our politicians's standards fallen so far that they really feel the need to turn a blind eye to company law (trading while insolvent) for the sake of a football club that has been run in a somewhat dubious manner to say the least? Should an MP gain access to HMRC documents in such a nepotistic way?

OK - as a SFC supporter I am bitter and twisted when thinking about Portsmouth.


EDIT: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-16833798

Well we did have a thread Opium for the masses and I think this is why.
Pompey as Angleman will know have quite a following as I recall from my football supporting days traversing the corners of England and Wales.
If they go under because of the 'percieved' financial mismanagement by the money men it might not be the LibLabCon that get's in next time if the passionate fans of Pompey have their way.

How the hell did anyone let it run up debts of £130m in the first place? I suppose it was buying too many African players at millions of pounds a time. In my opinion it needs to go to the wall. This is quite pathetic. Are we to run all business like this? I say it should fold, and if anyone from Portsmouth wants to start a local football club and do a better job then you must cut out the dead wood first of all. Anything other than that is the government sponsoring failure.