Oral Answers to Questions

Kevin Bonavia Excerpts

Thursday 16th April 2026 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Kevin Bonavia (Stevenage) (Lab)]

1. What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that hosting UEFA Euro 2028 supports communities.

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)]

The Euros in 2028 will be an amazing opportunity to showcase the UK’s strengths in holding major events. That is why my Department is already working with numerous organisations across the football pyramid as we develop plans for the community programme to ensure the benefits are spread as far as possible across the whole country.

[Kevin Bonavia]

Our fantastic English Football League club, Stevenage FC, is pushing for promotion to the championship, and its community foundation has delivered nearly £10.7 million of social value to my constituents in the last year alone. Communities outside of host cities have not always felt the benefits of hosting major international tournaments. Can my right hon. Friend explain how the legacy of Euro 2028 will be felt beyond host cities, particularly EFL clubs and communities in constituencies like mine?

[Lisa Nandy]

My hon. Friend raises an important point, and I could not agree with him more. Given that he has raised this point here in the Chamber, I will ask my officials to design the programme to ensure that the benefits are felt not just in Stevenage, but across the whole country.