MP tackled for “own goal” on football claims

LIBERAL Democrats in Blaydon constituency are tackling the area’s Labour MP, David Anderson, after he signed up to two opposing motions on football in Parliament.

On Monday 28th January, Labour's Mr David Anderson MP attacked Premiership football clubs for employing too many foreign players – 331 in total or 60% of the total players on their books. (Early Day Motion 756)

According to the words of the Parliamentary motion he put his name to, “this huge increase in players from overseas is to the detriment of the long-term interests of professional football in England.”

But two days later, Mr Anderson argued the exact opposite. In Early Day Motion 829, which he wrote and sponsored, he attacked the decision to refuse a work permit for an Iraqi footballer who wants to play for Manchester City.

“Mr Anderson can’t have it both ways,” said Councillor Peter Maughan, who is hoping to unseat the Labour MP at the next election.

Peter fought Mr Anderson at the last election and is hoping the return match at the next general election will be a win for the Liberal Democrats.

“Mr Anderson can’t credibly attack clubs for employing foreign footballers and then immediately cry foul when a foreign player is refused the right to play here!” Peter continued.

“He is clearly offside in his claims. It seems that since he first made them he has transfered teams, done some bad political dribbling and then scored an own goal!

“Mr Anderson needs to explain why he is playing for both sides of the argument or otherwise face being sent off the political field at the general election final.”