Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Euro 2028

Thursday 16 April 2026 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Kevin Bonavia raised concerns about ensuring benefits from hosting UEFA Euro 2028 reach communities beyond host cities, specifically mentioning Stevenage FC.
  • Jim Shannon inquired about the inclusion of Northern Ireland in the hosting plans for Euro 2028, emphasizing its importance to the region.
  • Louie French highlighted the economic and cultural benefits of hosting Euro 2028, noting its potential to generate significant socioeconomic benefits for the UK.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kevin Bonavia Lab Stevenage
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The question arises from the opportunity to host UEFA Euro 2028 and the goal of ensuring benefits are spread across communities.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that hosting UEFA Euro 2028 supports communities. Hosting such tournaments has previously not always benefited non-host city communities, especially those with clubs like Stevenage FC which delivered £10.7 million in social value last year and is striving for promotion.

Answer from Lisa Nandy

My hon. Friend raises an important point, and I could not agree with him more. Given that he has raised this point here in the Chamber, I will ask my officials to design the programme to ensure that the benefits are felt not just in Stevenage, but across the whole country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plan or commitment on how benefits will be spread beyond host cities

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Q2 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The question arises from concerns about the inclusion and benefits of Northern Ireland in Euro 2028, following previous government's lack of action.

Question

I thank the Minister for that answer and for her enthusiasm for what it is being brought forward. I want to ensure that Northern Ireland is very much a part of this; hopefully, the Minister will confirm that it will. With Northern Ireland being part of the host nations of Euro 2028, will the Minister confirm what steps have been taken to ensure that we in Northern Ireland are an intrinsic part of the event and not simply an afterthought? After all, we are part of this great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so we want to be part of it.

Answer from Lisa Nandy

The hon. Member will remember that when we were first elected to government back in 2024, the Northern Ireland Secretary and I worked very hard to try to ensure that Northern Ireland was able to host part of the games. Because of the timescales and the lack of action under the previous Government, we were not able to do that, but we made a firm commitment that Northern Ireland would feel the full benefit of these games, and we are still deeply committed to that.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Steps taken to ensure Northern Ireland is an intrinsic part of Euro 2028

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Q3 Louie French Con Old Bexley and Sidcup
Culture, Media & Sport

Question

I refer Members to my entry in the Register of Members’ Financial Interests. The successful bid to host the Euros in 2028 made under the previous Conservative Government has enormous potential to economically and culturally benefit the UK, giving fans lifelong memories as football comes home. But to deliver a truly lasting legacy, the Government must commit to protect pitches, properly fund grassroots sports and stop taxing clubs into oblivion. I ask the Minister again: will the Government finally U-turn on their proposed watering down of Sport England’s crucial role in protecting grassroots pitches?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

The hon. Member is absolutely right to say that the Euros should be a cross-party endeavour that commands the support of the whole House and that it will have significant economic benefits for the UK; we believe that it will generate socioeconomic benefits of £3.2 billion across the UK. He is also right to say that there has to be a legacy for young people growing up in this country to have the opportunity to access sport. We have learned the lessons from the way in which the last Conservative Government squandered the legacy of the London 2012 Olympics and refused to cascade those benefits across the country. We are ensuring that we are investing in grassroots sport. He will know that the Sports Minister and I recently announced £400 million of investment to that end.

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Q4 Louie French Con Old Bexley and Sidcup
Education Culture, Media & Sport

Question

The Secretary of State criticises the previous Conservative Government, but national sports bodies are fully aware that this Labour Government have cut sports funding, and increased regulation and taxes on clubs, and are putting at risk sports pitches across the country. Alongside these major own goals, the ongoing Whitehall ruck over how PE is funded risks reducing participation rates even further. This Labour Government have already cut millions from the likes of the opening schools facilities fund, and are overseeing huge uncertainty for the schools games organisers network. What discussions is the Secretary of State having with other Departments to ensure that children can continue playing sport, both at school and in their community?

Answer from Lisa Nandy

The hon. Member will know that after the vandalism of the last Conservative Government, where sports, art, music, dance and drama—all those things that give young people the opportunities to live a richer, larger life—were downgraded on the curriculum and shamefully branded as Mickey Mouse subjects by a number of leading members of his Government, we have put them back at the centre of the curriculum. I think he referred to school sport partnerships, which we are strongly committed to. I have had discussions with the Health Secretary and the Education Secretary to ensure that we continue to fund those—it is something that the Prime Minister feels strongly about—to make sure that every young person has the opportunity to participate in sports.

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