Following a policy stance announcement by Arsenal fan Sir Keir Starmer, English Premier League clubs could save significant sums over five years.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s recent statements on football policy have been well-received by Premier League clubs, including his beloved Arsenal.
As a season-ticket-holding Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer always watches Arsenal play at home at the Emirates and attends away games.
As Starmer campaigns ahead of the general election, he has addressed various policies related to football, which is currently overseen by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
One significant development is the delay in introducing an independent regulator for English football. This delay, caused by the announcement of the general election, is welcomed by clubs like Arsenal, who, along with many Premier League peers, oppose the concept of independent regulation.
Moreover, there had been reports suggesting that a Labour government might introduce a 10 percent tax on all Premier League transfers as part of its plans for independent regulation.
For a club like Arsenal, which has spent £647.57 million on new signings over the last five years, this would mean an additional cost of around £65 million over a five-year Labour government.
If a 10 percent levy had been in place last summer, it would have cost Arsenal £10 million when signing Declan Rice from West Ham for a £100 million fee.
However, Starmer has denied plans to introduce such a transfer tax. He clarified his stance in a statement relayed by Bloomberg, saying, “Let me just kill that one: we’re not looking at that.” This clarification has been celebrated by Arsenal and other Premier League clubs, potentially saving them significant amounts in transfer taxes over the coming years.
