Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Professional Wrestling: Event Licensing and Guidance

07 June 2023 · 1 other contributor · 4,005 words

Opened by Charlotte Nichols Lab Warrington North

Responding minister: John Whittingdale

EmploymentSafeguarding & DBSCulture, Media & Sport

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Charlotte Nichols raised concerns about professional wrestling: event licensing and guidance in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The lead MP expressed concerns about inconsistent categorization of professional wrestling as theatre or sport, leading to varied licensing requirements across local authorities.
  • She highlighted issues such as inadequate insurance coverage, health and safety risks, and potential legal violations including tax malpractice and sexual harassment.
  • The MP requested the Home Office to broaden TENs licence guidance to include health and safety protocols for wrestling suppliers, similar to recommendations from her all-party parliamentary group on wrestling.

Key requests to Government

The lead MP requested that the Home Office broaden TENs licence guidance to include health and safety protocols for wrestling suppliers, similar to recommendations made by her all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on wrestling. She also called for a national approach to licensing to ensure consistency and clarity in requirements across local authorities.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Charlotte Nichols Lab Warrington North

The lead MP expressed concerns about the inconsistent categorization of professional wrestling as either theatre or sport, leading to discrepancies in licensing requirements across different local authorities. She highlighted issues such as inadequate insurance coverage, health and safety risks, and potential legal violations, including tax malpractice and sexual harassment. The MP also noted disparities in medical supervision at events, with some promotions lacking proper medical supplies and trained professionals.

Other contributors (1)
  • Alex Davies-Jones Lab Pontypridd

    Praised the importance of licensing and having a registered professional medic available at events to address concerns about concussion in professional wrestling.

Government Response

John Whittingdale

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Betts. I congratulate the hon. Member for Warrington North on obtaining this debate and on her very informative speech. British wrestling has a long heritage dating back several centuries in the UK. Wrestlers such as Saraya Bevis, Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate represent the UK internationally. The industry is thriving despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. I acknowledge that there is a lack of clarity regarding safety standards and safeguarding, which are crucial for protecting workers and ensuring children's well-being. Wrestling coaches are now recognised as being in positions of trust under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 amendments made by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022. The industry should adopt a set of health and safety standards with guidance from the Health and Safety Executive. A doctor should always be present for matches to ensure medical care. Concussion prevention guidelines are being developed in collaboration with experts. Wrestling is categorised as 'sport-art', combining elements of sport and entertainment. I encourage further discussions between the APPG and Sport England regarding training classification.

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