MANCHESTER UNITED

Early day motion 719, tabled 9 February 2005 by Tony Lloyd (Labour). Signed by 115 members.

That this House notes the renewed attempt to take over Manchester United PLC by Malcolm Glazer and his company Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football franchise; recognises that senior players, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand, have spoken out against the bid; recalls that the overwhelming majority of Manchester United supporters oppose the bid; believes that any takeover designed to transform the club into a private company would be against the interests of supporters and football; considers that profit increases in ticket and merchandise prices in order to increase shareholder return would conflict with the club's wider obligations; accepts that football clubs differ from other trading companies in owing real accountability to their customers, the supporters; calls upon the Premier League and the football authorities to use the powers that they have to ensure that full information about the benefits and disbenefits of this bid to football in general and Manchester United in particular be placed in the public domain; is aware that bankers, N M Rothschild, are backing this bid; calls on them to issue a statement explaining how they intend to measure support for this takeover from football supporters in line with statements that that is their intention; and reiterates its request to the Department of Trade and Industry to take steps to regulate any takeover on public interest grounds.

Signatures by party: Labour 78, Liberal Democrat 13, Labour/Co-operative 11, Conservative 8, DUP 2, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.