Articles 
As was stated in our response to the government plans to give supporters a 25% stake in their club; Newcastle United Supporters Trust welcomes any move that empowers supporters and gives them a way forward towards true representation within the game. But words need to be followed by actions and while local councillors have come behind the membership in supporting our aims, we know little about where our support comes from at parliamentary level. Newcastle East and Minister for the North Nick Brown has been very supportive of the Trust as have Newcastle Central MP Jim Cousins and Tyne Bridge MP Dave Clelland, However neither Jim Cousins nor David Clelland are seeking re election.
Nationally, the Conservative Shadow Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has been quoted as saying that there are other ways in which supporters can be guaranteed representation without needing ownership stakes, whilst Don Foster for the Liberal Democrats dismisses the idea of supporter-ownership as a ‘pipedream'. But what of our Prospective parliamentary candidates here in the North?
Well, to date we have heard nothing from any prospective candidate of any political persuasion regarding their opinion on the governance of football, the role of supporters within the game or the aims and ideals of NUST at local level and Supporters Direct at national level.
There are two things that we would encourage our members to do in the run up to the general election. Firstly; address the prospective candidates across the region on the issue of supporter role within football and particular with regard to Newcastle United, and secondly; seek their opinion on the need for change within football.
The run up to the election is an ideal opportunity to bring supporter representation onto the political playing field and establish where we stand in respect to the prospective parliamentary candidates who are seeking our vote, and whose support we would like to think we can call upon when needed.
Below, you will find the links to the websites of the three major political parties in England, where you can establish who your local candidates are and to whom you should address your questions.
When doing so, remember there’s been a long-standing call for a statutory regulator for football; regardless of the merits of that case, there’s a simple problem in that the three major UK parties have not supported this call. But with a third of the current MP’s not seeking re-election, will this stance change in the future?
Remember too, that at present, anyone who takes over a football club over with debt can write off the interest payments against any profits and lower their tax bill. As a result, debt-financed takeovers are made more appealing by the tax system, which loses out revenue which should be going to support the British state. If politicians feel they can’t ban such takeovers, they can at the very least stop using our money to encourage them by the back door.
Bring the candidates attention to the efforts being made to get proper regulation within the game and ask if they support such efforts.
UEFA’s new initiative to control club spending across the top divisions of Europe is a very welcome first step, but possibly needs to be developed domestically. The FA need to take charge of club finances and bring some sense. We need transparency about who owns clubs, where their money comes from, what their business plans are, how much debt they’re taking on and how they involve supporters in their clubs, and we need it from the top to the bottom – from Whitley Bay to Manchester United, these problems affect all levels of the game. Government needs to encourage and support football’s efforts to put its house in order, but must be prepared to act if the game won’t – or can’t - help itself.
Remember; your local Politician needs you!
