Carnivals

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Thursday 12th March 2026 Westminster Hall

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

I beg to move,

That this House has considered Government support for carnivals.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I thank the Backbench Business Committee for scheduling this important debate.

Carnivals have been celebrated in Somerset for over 400 years and continue to be wonderful celebrations that are of economic, social and cultural importance to the country. They are part of the fabric of so many communities: it is estimated that across the country, 220 traditional English carnivals still take place each year. They are often aligned with saints’ days or events in the agricultural calendar, which reflects their origin as part of England’s cultural life. Across our nation, carnivals promote cultural inclusivity and multiculturalism, as can be seen at the Notting Hill carnival, which welcomes over 1 million spectators annually.

Last Friday, I was pleased to bring local carnival club members, committee members and stakeholders together at a roundtable event in Glastonbury. It was a pleasure to meet so many dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to make Somerset’s illuminated carnivals so special. I am grateful to everyone who took the time to share their experiences, concerns and hopes for the future. Carnival is their passion, and it is their deep commitment to it that keeps the much-loved tradition alive. The number of hours that each club and each committee puts into building and maintaining their carts and organising each carnival is simply astounding. Mini Sheppard, a member of the Mendip Vale carnival club, spends six nights a week committed to assisting local carnival clubs, while building and maintaining carts. That highlights the level of commitment that club and committee members give to carnival, as do so many others. For most people involved in carnival, this dedication spans decades; for some, it is a lifetime.

In Somerset, the tradition of carnival originates from Guy Fawkes’s foiled Catholic gunpowder plot of 1605. From those roots, carnivals continue to be an integral part of Somerset’s cultural identity. West country carnivals are unique in being illuminated night-time winter events organised solely by local volunteers. Nigel Clarke from Wells City carnival committee told me that

“it is our love for this tradition that binds the whole community together.”

Illuminated carnival parades occur in more than 30 towns across Somerset between August and November. The most famous are the magnificent seven of the Somerset county Guy Fawkes circuit. This fantastic circuit starts in Bridgwater and concludes with Glastonbury carnival, which will be held this year on 21 November. Glastonbury carnival celebrations can be dated back to at least the mid-19th century. Records show that in the 1840s, bonfires and a carnival were organised by the “bonfire boys”. A turning point in the attitude to Glastonbury’s carnival celebrations came in 1920, when the Chilkwell Guy Fawkes carnival committee was formed.

Other carnivals in my constituency are Wincanton and Castle Cary, which are both part of the Wessex grand prix circuit. The circuit was the brainchild of Keith Berry of Frome carnival association and Gordon Stockman of Castle Cary carnival society, and I am pleased to say that this year it celebrates its 41st year.

Given illuminated carnivals’ unique place in British history, they must feature on the UK’s inventory of living heritage. It is incumbent on the Government to ensure that they remain a living part of our heritage and are not allowed to disappear from Somerset’s streets.

Not only are carnivals a cherished, integral part of Somerset’s cultural identity, they are economically significant to our region. Across the south-west, culture plays an important role in the regional economy. It is estimated to be worth over £1 billion annually, with Somerset’s carnival season generating over £40 million every year. The events provide a major boost to local businesses, with carnivals generating a large increase in footfall that supports the hospitality, catering, retail, leisure and entertainment sectors. Hazel DeGregorio, the chairperson of Glastonbury Chilkwell carnival, told me that more than 400,000 spectators attended the seven Somerset county carnivals in 2025, with more than 100,000 visitors gathering in Glastonbury for the day of the Chilkwell carnival. I can attest to that as I was there, and it was the most wonderful procession.

The magnificent seven of the Somerset county Guy Fawkes circuit contribute more than £4 million each year to Somerset’s economy. The tourism sector is huge for the west country’s economy, and illuminated carnivals help to sustain that economic activity during the winter months, bringing visitors and spending into rural communities during the quieter tourist off-season.

The benefits are not only economic, but charitable. Since 1980, more than £2 million has been raised through street collections at the seven Somerset carnivals, with much of that money supporting local charities and community groups. Behind every carnival are the clubs and committees that work tirelessly all year round, fundraising, building carts and organising processions, while feeding back into the local economy at every step. When we talk about Somerset’s illuminated carnivals, we are not only talking about spectacle, culture and tradition. We are also talking about jobs, businesses, tourism, charity and community investment.

[Tessa Munt (Wells and Mendip Hills) (LD)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Mrs Harris. I do not know whether you have had the opportunity to visit any of the Somerset carnivals, but they are spectacular and huge. One of the magnificent seven is, of course, Wells, and the second in my patch is Shepton Mallet. As my hon. Friend was saying, they not only contribute to cultural life but have an absolutely huge number of volunteers. They work on making carnival carts all year round, engaging young people in the activity. It is fantastic that so many young people—literally hundreds and hundreds—get involved in building the carts. They really are a spectacle, and I invite you to come down to Somerset to have a look. You will not see anything else like it anywhere else in the country.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sarah Dyke]

I thank my hon. Friend for her contribution—it was not really a question. I wholeheartedly endorse her offer of a visit to carnival in Somerset; it is a spectacular sight, as she rightly points out. I will come on to her point about the importance of young people continuing to be a part of the tradition, and about the skills that they can learn by getting involved in carnival.

Despite the economic significance of carnivals to Somerset and the wider south-west, carnival clubs and organising committees face rising costs that threaten their long-term sustainability. The cost of participation has increased significantly: it now costs more than £30,000 to put one single illuminated cart on the road during a procession. The costs include materials, fuel—another significant cost that will increase this year, as we know—tractor and generator hire, insurance and health and safety compliance. All those costs have risen and continue to rise.

Historically, carnival clubs have sustained themselves through a combination of membership fees, local fundraising and sponsorship from local businesses, but with small businesses navigating a challenging fiscal landscape, many simply cannot afford to sponsor local clubs, no matter how much they value them. Given those challenges, I would welcome it if the Minister outlined how the Government plan to safeguard the viability of Somerset’s illuminated carnivals, and whether they recognise the financial damage that losing them would inflict on our regional economy.

Carnival committees also face increases in the cost of insurance, licences, safety infrastructure and prize money. Paul Burch, the entries secretary and lead organiser of Castle Cary and Ansford carnival society, told me that the cost of organising and running its carnival is likely to rise from £9,000 in 2022 to more than £13,000 this year. The carnival in Wincanton, in the east of my constituency, was revived by John Sansom in 1977, but sadly had to stop in 2009 for six years because of a number of financial restrictions. Thankfully, a local committee was formed in 2015 to bring back that much-loved carnival.

Volunteers are key to running successful carnivals, but with fewer volunteers available, some carnival committees, such as Castle Cary’s, are now forced to pay professional marshalling costs to assist with manning the road closures. For smaller carnival committees, the costs are even more crippling. South Somerset carnival park committee’s costs, which cover insurance, first aid, radio hire, barriers and road closures, now exceed £6,000 and are rising. These growing costs place enormous pressure on those volunteers and committees.

A key reason why carnival committees are struggling is the sharp decline in money raised through street collections. For generations, collections taken along the carnival routes would help to cover the cost of events, with a significant remainder donated to local charities. Reg Cohen, president of Glastonbury Chilkwell carnival, tells me that collections have been falling year on year, with the coins and notes that once filled collection buckets becoming far less common in an increasingly cashless society.

Those who went to carnivals years ago will remember throwing coins at a cart as it was going by. As we go out with less and less cash in our pockets, that happens less and less. Carnival committees in Somerset have attempted to adapt by introducing QR codes and digital donations, but in many of Somerset’s rural towns, unreliable mobile signals make that almost impossible. It is also very difficult logistically, because spectators simply do not want to be doing all that while they are at a carnival procession; they want to be watching the amazing illuminated carts go by.

[Tessa Munt]

My hon. Friend is making a brilliant speech. I thank her and my friend the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Dan Aldridge) for bringing this debate to Westminster Hall, because it is a really important issue. I have been a carnival collector for years. I carry two buckets. In years gone past, it was almost impossible to carry them because they were so heavy with coins. Everyone used to save their pennies, tuppences and fivepence and tenpence pieces, but now there is very little of that money saved across a year. First, that is because things are tight: it is hard to live, so people need every penny that they can get. Secondly, as my hon. Friend mentioned, there is a lack of wi-fi. In fact, in parts of Shepton Mallet and particularly in the city of Wells—

[Tessa Munt]

Almost the whole of the way east of Wells is without any wi-fi, even for those who live there. That makes things incredibly difficult. Does my hon. Friend agree?

[Sarah Dyke]

I certainly do agree, and I thank my hon. Friend for her question this time. She makes a very good point: the income that was brought in buckets and thrown on the carts once sustained carnivals. Now, it does not go far enough to cover the cost of running them, especially with all the additional associated costs.

That concern has led to leading club and committee members in my constituency, including John Dando of Glastonbury carnival committee, Sue and Gordon Stockman of Cary Comedians carnival club and Dr Andrew Tallon of Mendip Vale carnival club, founding the Carnivals in Somerset Promotion Project to protect this unique tradition and prevent it from disappearing, which could happen unless urgent efforts are made to widen participation and increase support. I thank them for founding that brilliant project to keep our brilliant carnivals alive.

I would like to highlight not only what carnival clubs bring to Somerset’s culture and economy, but the opportunities they bring to members. At my roundtable, people told me about the vital practical, teamworking and social skills they gained, along with skills in engineering, electrical, carpentry, costume design, event organisation, publicity and accounting, to name but a few opportunities on offer within the carnival environment. Those are all vital, hands-on skills that can translate directly into future careers for younger members. That is particularly important in rural areas such as Somerset, where opportunities for practical learning and apprenticeships have diminished. For young people for whom the traditional education system just is not suitable, carnivals provide an outlet to develop skills, learn from experienced volunteers and contribute to their community.

In Somerset, 7% of 16 to 18-year-olds are not in education, employment or training, which is above the national average. Sally Taylor from Wick carnival club in Glastonbury stressed the role that clubs play in helping young people with SEND to gain skills and opportunities, but for that to continue, we must make sure that carnival clubs can access safe and secure premises from which they can operate. Kym Tomms from South Somerset Carnival Park noted that two clubs on the south Somerset circuit face closure, as they do not have adequate physical space to run their clubs. One currently has outdoor storage space only, while the other faces the expiry of its shed lease next year. Following more than a decade of negotiations, planning permission has finally been granted for South Somerset Carnival Park to build a new storage shed on the Dillington estate for four carnival clubs. These facilities are not simply workshops; they are community and educational hubs. Although planning permission has been secured, the clubs must now raise the funds to construct the sheds—a process that organisers say could take years and obviously adds financial pressure.

Carnival clubs across the region are facing umpteen barriers when seeking permission for the industrial-sized units needed to build their carts. We need a planning system that supports local enterprise and recognises when development will bring benefit to communities. Supporting carnivals and carnival clubs is an investment in transferable skills, strengthening communities and providing opportunities for young people.

Health and safety is absolutely paramount for carnival clubs and carnival committees. Since the late 1990s, organisers have rightly seen increased regulations designed to protect participants, spectators and volunteers. Since the covid-19 pandemic, sadly, Somerset council has not held any safety advisory group meetings prior to carnival season that include all the relevant stakeholders. Avon and Somerset police operational planning specialist Andy Newland told me that reimplementing this advisory group is key to enable these important discussions.

Due to the crisis in local authority funding, Somerset council has been forced to move to a risk assessment approach. That is why I am calling for councils to be subject to a statutory requirement to hold safety advisory group meetings with all relevant stakeholders ahead of carnival. With support from central Government for local cultural events, we can make sure that our carnivals remain safe and well-organised celebrations for years to come.

In the 1990s, Avon and Somerset police introduced a vehicle special order specifying the height, weight and length of a cart, known as “the box”. Diane from Harlequin carnival club told me that the approach has levelled the playing field for clubs in competition, as they are all building to the same dimensions, while also seeking to improve public safety. That is a good thing, but the restrictions have diminished the creativity and flexibility that carnival clubs rely on when designing the carts and the fabulously themed productions. For example, if a performer’s arm movement goes too far outside the box, that is a breach of the safety restrictions that have been imposed. Although I understand why the regulations on the box are in place while the cart is being transported along the highways outside of a procession, it is really important that we are able to flex the regulations to make sure that, while the carnival is in procession, it is as spectacular as possible.

To achieve the right balance between safety and expression, I implore the Minister to bring together the Vehicle Certification Agency and carnival clubs and committees in Somerset, so that they can voice their concerns. The clubs and committees are not opposed to the regulations and support sensible restrictions—they themselves called for stronger safety regulations to professionalise carnivals in the late 1990s—but they must be fair and developed in co-ordination with those looking to keep this tradition alive.

Carnivals are a wonderful example of community cohesion, brought to fruition by the hard work and commitment of local volunteers. They bring people together across communities, as they have for hundreds of years, and we must make sure that they continue to do so in the future. Put simply, carnival is part of Somerset’s DNA, so I hope that we can secure its long-term future.

[Carolyn Harris (in the Chair)]

I call the co-sponsor of the debate, Dan Aldridge.

--- Later in debate ---

[Sarah Dyke]

I thank all hon. Members for their contributions and give special thanks to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Dan Aldridge), who co-sponsored the debate alongside me. As has been outlined, carnivals are a distinctive and important part of British cultural heritage. For many in Somerset, they are a key point of celebration throughout the year. I appreciate the Minister’s supportive comments recognising the value that they bring and extend an invitation to her and you, Mrs Harris, to join me at Glastonbury carnival on 21 November. You will be very welcome there.

We must make sure that carnivals across the UK are supported, and I hope that today’s debate will help us focus our minds on the work that is needed to ensure that these celebrations take place long into the future. I hope the debate has illuminated to this place the special social, cultural and economic importance of carnivals to Somerset. Let us keep their lights on. To finish, it seems appropriate to quote Robbie Williams: let us make sure that they are “Back for Good” and let us make sure that we let them “entertain you”.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That this House has considered Government support for carnivals.

English Rugby

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Tuesday 10th March 2026 Westminster Hall

[Edward Morello]

I agree wholeheartedly and am sure that the Minister will take the opportunity to speak to that pledge.

Most importantly, grassroots clubs are where the future of the sport begins. They are where the next England star first learnt to pass, make a tackle and score a try. Yet many grassroots clubs are struggling. Across the country are clubhouses that are outdated, that have unsuitable changing rooms and where facilities are not always appropriate for the women’s game. Often there are no women’s changing rooms at all.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

I founded North Dorset women’s rugby club back in 1995 and I am very pleased to say that it is still going. There is now also a fantastic girls’ team, linked with Castle Cary rugby club in my constituency, for girls aged between 12 and 18. There has been some great work on facilities and there has been some funding available through Impact ’25 to help with changing facilities for women and girls. It ends at the end of this month, but it needs to continue. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need that funding in order to ensure that there is that ability to include women and girls in our rugby clubs, particularly in rural areas?

[Edward Morello]

I wholeheartedly agree and will come on to the issues about funding, but also about how we measure the impact to ensure that, whether it be Rugby Football Union funding or Government—taxpayer —money through Sport England, we are measuring the outputs and making sure that we are delivering results.

--- Later in debate ---

[The Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts (Ian Murray)]

It is always a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Ms Vaz. I apologise that the Sports Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley South (Stephanie Peacock), is at the winter Paralympics in Milan, and there is nobody more appropriate than a Scot to take this particular debate. Ms Vaz, if you will indulge me, the reason I am wearing this tie is purely because I left my other blue one in the car this morning and this is the only one hanging up in my office that I had to put on—of course, I have to be appropriately dressed for replying to debates.

I am pleased to respond to the debate and I congratulate the hon. Gentleman for West Dorset (Edward Morello) on securing it. I need to declare an interest early on, as holders of the Calcutta cup and favourites for the Six Nations; I wish England the best of luck against France this weekend, as it will allow us to lift that trophy. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that rugby union, and indeed all sports, play a vital role in our national and local identity. The things he said about the people who wash the kits, cook the food and coach the children, and all the people involved in our clubs as volunteers, describe many sports across the country. They are the beating heart of our communities.

From the roar of Twickenham—or sometimes the silence of Twickenham—to the muddy pitches of our local leagues, rugby is a sport that instils the core values of teamwork, discipline and respect. Those values are on show from the grassroots rugby games across the country all the way to the Six Nations. I would like to celebrate the performances by Scotland and Wales this weekend and I hope that England finish strongly, as they probably should.

Beyond the game itself, rugby clubs serve as the beating heart of our communities, demonstrating how much rugby is so much more than just a sport. They are vital social hubs, as the hon. Gentleman said, providing a sense of belonging, fostering local pride and delivering accessible opportunities for people of all ages to get active. That is exactly why the Government have been unwavering in their support for the game, from the grassroots up to the elite level.

On support for grassroots rugby union, as mentioned by the hon. Gentleman and many others in their interventions, the Government are committed to ensuring that everyone has access to and can benefit from quality sport and physical activity opportunities. That includes rugby union and indeed rugby league—Mr Speaker would be upset if I did not mention rugby league too. Sport England is providing more than £60 million of funding to the Rugby Football Union between 2022 and 2029, supporting men’s and women’s grassroots rugby participation.

As well as that, we are providing significant financial support to deliver grassroots sport facilities, including for rugby. The Government recently announced £85 million to build and upgrade grassroots sport facilities across the UK in this year alone, including more than £68 million that will be invested in England via the multi-sport grassroots facilities programme. I hope that will resolve many of the issues about facilities that my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds South West and Morley (Mark Sewards) talked about. That builds on more than £80 million being invested in England in 2025-26. Some 40% of funded projects through the multi-sport grassroots facilities programme will have a multi-sport offer to allow more people to participate in a wider variety of sports such as rugby.

In particular, women’s rugby, which has been mentioned, has seen exceptional growth in recent years. Women’s sport has seen exceptional growth, in fact, but particularly rugby. Since 2021, participation in the women’s game has surged by 38%. It is great to see the growth of women’s rugby and it was fantastic to see the success of the Red Roses last summer to inspire the next generation. A record 82,000 crowd, as well as a record television audience—a larger television audience than for the Six Nations—watched that final. That is part of the Government’s work to drive a decade of change in women’s sport, and my Department is using the women’s sport taskforce to drive progress across the sector and is working with the authorities to do so.

[Sarah Dyke]

Holly Davidson made history in February when she took charge of the Ireland versus Italy Six Nations game in Dublin, becoming the first woman to referee a men’s game. Being a proud Scot, will he join me in congratulating her on that terrific move for women’s participation in rugby generally?

Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Stephanie Peacock]

I thank my hon. Friend for raising that important point. Sport England invests over £250 million of Exchequer and lottery funding each year, and offers guidance and support to grassroots clubs looking to take control of their local sports pitches through its community asset transfer toolkit, which it is currently updating. I would be very happy to set up a meeting for my hon. Friend with Sport England, which can offer further advice if that is helpful.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

I recently met Abbas and Templecombe parish councillors to discuss their exciting plans to add a 400-metre running track, a multi-use games area and an outdoor adult gym to the local recreation ground. Given that physical inactivity costs the UK over £7 billion a year, such improvements are welcome, particularly in rural areas. However, despite securing some of the funding, the parish council is struggling to find the additional funds it needs to get the project off the ground. What steps is the Minister taking to help rural, parish and town councils improve their sports and leisure facilities?

[Stephanie Peacock]

The hon. Lady is a strong advocate for her constituency, and she makes a very important argument. As I have outlined, the Government are investing £400 million in grassroots facilities. We are also working with the sports sector and local leaders to understand the demands of each community, and I would be happy to discuss that further with her.

London Fashion Week: Cultural Contribution

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Tuesday 16th September 2025 Westminster Hall

[Rosie Wrighting (Kettering) (Lab)]

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the cultural contribution of London Fashion Week.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Murrison. I am honoured to have secured this debate on the cultural contribution of London Fashion Week, which begins on Thursday. This is an industry and a week with a buzz that is almost indescribable, but in this speech I will do my best to put it into words. About now, across our country and capital, designers and creative directors are reviewing their collections for the final time. Stylists are curating every detail. Make-up artists are checking and rechecking their kits. Streetwear creators are planning their content grids. Production teams are transforming venues across this city into extraordinary stages.

For many of us, fashion is a career driven not just by ambition but by a deep love of the industry and a passion for creativity. When I was 16 fashion was, as it is for many young people, a form of self-expression while I was still trying to figure out who I was, so I was thrilled when I got my first insight into the industry when I was offered a part-time job at Topshop on Kettering’s High Street. I am sure I need not remind colleagues that in 2013 Topshop was quite the brand. It represented a connection to global trends, creativity and culture that felt far away from my day-to-day life in Kettering. I loved watching trends trickle down from the catwalk to the high street and spotting that one piece of the season finally landing in Kettering after seeing it online weeks before. It was in those moments that I realised I did not want to be just on the shop floor, looking at the clothes; I wanted to be part of the world that created them.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

I congratulate the hon. Member on securing this really important debate. Lynne Franks is a good friend of mine and a constituent, and she is also the creator of London Fashion Week. However, her impact does not end there. It is global, but also local. She is the founder of the SEED Hub in Wincanton, which provides a space for female entrepreneurs in the area. Will the hon. Member join me in congratulating Lynne Franks on her amazing career in the fashion industry? Does she agree that we must invest in arts education, ensuring that courses are well funded and apprenticeships are available, so that the UK can maintain its global creative and fashion hub?

[Rosie Wrighting]

Yes, absolutely. I join the hon. Member in congratulating Lynne Franks on her incredible career. The hon. Member is right, and later I will go into more detail on how important it is that we invest in the next generation of creatives across the country, not just in our capital.

Free-to-air Broadcasting: Cricket Participation

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Tuesday 9th September 2025 Westminster Hall

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Ms McVey. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cheltenham (Max Wilkinson) for securing this important debate and for his excellent speech. This summer has been a great one for British sport with the Lionesses’ success in the Euros, and I hope the Red Roses will follow suit in the women’s rugby world cup later this month; the Hundred cricket tournament also finished recently. All have been viewable on free-to-air TV and watched by millions.

I recently met Holly Woodford, the co-founder of Her Spirit, a women’s sport platform. Her Spirit’s motto is, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” This matters for all sport, especially women’s sport and cricket. Her Spirit’s barriers survey last year found that nearly half of respondents wanted to see more coverage of women’s sport on TV, in the press and media. Research from Women in Sport has also found that equal visibility increases the number of girls believing they can reach the top in their sport.

As my fellow Somerset colleague, my hon. Friend the Member for Taunton and Wellington (Gideon Amos), who is no longer in his place, pointed out, Somerset has a proud cricketing history, with our county club celebrating 150 years “not out” this year. It is in cricket that we have already seen how free-to-air coverage changes perceptions. The women’s Hundred has consistently attracted hundreds of thousands of viewers on the BBC, many of them watching women’s cricket for the first time. This exposure has been directly linked to record levels of participation in grassroots programmes.

In Glastonbury and Somerton, we have a thriving network of women’s and girls’ cricket clubs, with the Street cricket club ladies’ team participating in the T20 softball Holland division; Ilton cricket club competing in the Somerset ladies’ softball league, cup and festival; and the Long Sutton cricket club ladies’ team continuing to grow year on year. However, we know that girls drop out of sport in their teenage years at a higher rate than boys. Some fear being judged, or all too often they are self-conscious or just do not feel good enough; some simply do not feel safe. There is also a lack of opportunities.

Meanwhile, the recent Government proposal to remove Sport England as a statutory consultee from the planning system could result in the loss of sporting facilities across Somerset. Research from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport suggests that converting spikes of interest in sport into long-term participation requires access to facilities and programmes. However, women and girls do not receive an equal share of available funding from Sport England. Those are all key barriers to boosting participation for girls and women.

Free-to-air broadcasting of sports such as cricket, however, should form part of the answer, as it generates demand. More coverage normalises women playing sport. It shows that women and girls have sporting skill, and that they are passionate and competitive, in the same way as our male sporting role models, who have been idolised for generations. There is a disparity between male and female coverage. Free-to-air TV covers less women’s sport than paid channels, hurting visibility. Research from the Women’s Sport Trust in 2023 found that the BBC and ITV accounted for just 11% of total hours of coverage of women’s sport, but 77% of viewing hours. The Liberal Democrats are clear: the list of women’s sporting fixtures available on free-to-air channels must mirror men’s. We need to expand the list of sporting fixtures with live free-to-air coverage. Key national sporting events—the crown jewels of sport—should be available to all television viewers, including those who cannot afford the extra cost of subscription television, especially during a cost of living crisis.

Analysis from the Somerset Cricket Foundation found that participation in the sport has a positive impact on wellbeing and generates savings for the public purse of more than £40 million. But women and girls still lag behind when it comes to participation. Only 250,000 women play cricket, compared with more than 1 million men. Somerset is encouraging further growth. In 2025, the region launched its first formal women’s indoor cricket league, with 33 teams competing. In addition to the girls-only Dynamos programme, Glow In The Dark cricket sessions have engaged nearly 300 girls this year alone.

In my playing days—yes, I did play cricket in the garden with my brother, Rupert, invariably beating him both in batting and in bowling; I also played for my village team, Buckhorn Weston, and I played county cricket for Dorset and Wiltshire—women’s cricket was entirely absent from free-to-air broadcasting, with aspiring players unable to see their role models on television, which reinforced the idea that cricket was just not a sport for them. Today, thanks to free-to-air coverage of the Hundred, England international Twenty20 matches and highlights of the women’s T20 Vitality Blast, women and girls across the country can see players who look like them, competing at the highest level and fuelling enthusiasm for the grassroots level, because let us remember:

“You can’t be what you can’t see.”

Oral Answers to Questions

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Thursday 27th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Lisa Nandy]

Both the Sport Minister and I meet every premier league club and Premier League executives on a regular basis, and we have a very constructive relationship with them, including on pursuing the Government’s No. 1 mission, which is to grow our economy after 14 years of stagnant economic growth and decline. I say gently to the hon. Gentleman that the Government are always happy to clarify who our comments are intended towards, as we were in this instance, but if he seriously thinks that it is acceptable for Conservative Front Benchers to extinguish the hope of millions of football fans who were made promises by his party that it never delivered on, he might want to explain that to football fans in his own constituency.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

Women’s football clubs earn a small fraction of the revenue of men’s teams, so the financial gap between men’s and women’s football continues to be a barrier to growth. After the fantastic performance by the Lionesses to beat the world champions Spain at Wembley last night, what steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure that continued investment is available to make women’s sport more established, accessible and sustainable?

[Lisa Nandy]

The Sport Minister has met the Football Association this week to discuss the women’s game and to promote the campaign to support women’s football. We, like the hon. Lady, have been absolutely inspired by the success of the Lionesses, but more importantly, it has inspired young girls in every part of this country to come forward and want to take part in football. That is why we are investing in grassroots sports facilities to make sure that they get every bit as much opportunity not just to dream big, but to have a plan to get there.

Youth Provision: Universal and Targeted Support

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Tuesday 11th February 2025 Westminster Hall

[Harpreet Uppal]

My hon. Friend is absolutely correct, and I will come on to mental health.

Fourteen years of Conservative Governments have resulted in a £1.2 billion real-terms reduction in local authority spending on youth services in England since 2010.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

I thank the hon. Member for securing this really important debate. She is making a powerful introduction. The Street Foyer YMCA in my constituency provides excellent support for a lot of young people, many of whom come from challenging backgrounds and circumstances, but the local authority faces severe financial difficulties. Somerset council can spend only £13.47 per head on young people in Somerset. Does the hon. Member agree that it is crucial that we address the broken local government funding model if we are to improve youth service provision?

[Harpreet Uppal]

I thank the hon. Member for her point. I am sure the Minister heard what she said.

Kirklees council, which covers my constituency of Huddersfield, has seen a 70% decrease in funding in the 14 years that I mentioned. That leaves just £47.76 per young person spent on youth services in our community.

Six Nations Rugby Championship: Viewing Access

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Tuesday 4th February 2025 Westminster Hall

[Charlie Dewhirst]

I absolutely agree; the hon. Member makes a good point. I will come on in some detail to the importance of the tournament’s accessibility and how it inspires the next generation of fans and players. I also note that the match at the weekend was really excellent for at least 40 minutes, but we will leave it there.

The tournament has a rich history. It was first played in 1883, as the Home Nations championship, among the four home nations of the United Kingdom. In 1910, the tournament became the Five Nations championship in 1910, with the addition of France. In 2000, it was expanded to become the Six Nations, when Italy was invited to join.

Over the years, the Five and then the Six Nations has provided many iconic moments. Would you believe, Ms Jardine, that I am just about old enough to remember the great Scottish grand slam-winning side of 1990? Who can forget what Gavin Henson did to us English in 2005? On the flipside, I was lucky enough to be at the Millennium stadium in 2017 when Elliot Daly scored that last-minute winner to break Welsh hearts. The tournament has made names such as Hastings, O’Driscoll, Warburton and Itoje household names. My fear is that any move away from free-to-air television could see audiences plummet and risk us missing out on the next generation of rugby players and fans.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for securing this really important debate. According to a recent study by CHoosing Active Role Models to INspire Girls, only 28% of 14-year-olds were able to identify a sporting role model. Does he agree that if the women’s Six Nations follows the men’s game and moves behind a paywall, it would limit girls’ access to the sport, reduce visibility and ultimately harm efforts to grow women’s participation in rugby?

[Charlie Dewhirst]

I absolutely agree. The women’s rugby game has been a huge success story over the last decade, and the free-to-air coverage that we have of the women’s Six Nations has been a key part of that. I pay tribute to all the clubs up and down the country that have done such a huge amount of work to get more girls and women into the game and to play it.

To go back to what I was saying about free-to-air access across the board, all current matches are shown on the BBC and ITV. That ensures that the sport has a vital window to the wider population; that is key to keeping it in the national spotlight. It is worth recalling that the last comprehensive free-to-air broadcast deal for test cricket was for the 2005 Ashes series—arguably the greatest of all time—but I question whether that rollercoaster summer of cricket would have grabbed the nation’s attention in the same way had it not been accessible to all.

Since then, cricketing authorities have been battling for the survival of the test format; this is 20 years after it went behind a paywall. They have had to invent what I will call a new gimmick format for free-to-air television in an attempt to win over the next generation of fans. Thankfully, today’s is not a debate about the pros and cons of the Hundred, so I will return to the matters in hand.

Employer National Insurance Contributions: Charities

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Tuesday 7th January 2025 Westminster Hall

[Joe Robertson (Isle of Wight East) (Con)]

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the impact of changes to employers’ National Insurance contributions on the charity sector.

The background to this debate is the October Budget presented by the Government, and in particular the rise in national insurance contributions for employers. The rate was raised to 15% and the threshold at which national insurance contributions apply was brought down from £9,100 to £5,000, bringing in some part-time workers who previously had not caused their employers to be subject to national insurance contributions. Much has been said about the impact of the rise on the economy, but less has been said about the impact on charities.

Charities deliver almost £17 billion-worth of public services a year. Public services and civil society could not operate without charities. There is a tendency to overlook the important work they do. Particularly at the level of local government, charities are responsible through contracting for the delivery of a lot of the services that local governments are required to deliver.

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

I thank the hon. Member for securing this important debate. The Balsam Centre is a charity in Wincanton in my constituency that delivers some of the vital services that the hon. Member talks about, including maternal mental health support and youth counselling. The NI changes mean that it will have to find an extra £40,000 for its salary costs next year, cancel any pay increases and operate at a reduced capacity from April. Its work relieves pressure on the NHS and on local government, so does the hon. Member agree that the Government must rethink the national insurance changes?

[Joe Robertson]

I of course agree with the hon. Member that the Government must rethink the changes. I will go on to use examples from my own constituency, and I thank her for doing so with hers.

Horseracing

Sarah Dyke Excerpts

Thursday 24th October 2024 Westminster Hall

[Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton) (LD)]

It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Edward. I congratulate the hon. Member for West Suffolk (Nick Timothy) on securing this important debate.

Last week, I was lucky enough to attend the season opener at Wincanton races in my constituency. I found it hugely valuable to be there and discuss the issues of trainers, jockeys, owners and those watching the races alike. As the hon. Member said, the British horseracing industry is worth £4.1 billion a year to the UK economy, but most of that comes from mega-wealthy bettors who can afford to make substantial bets.

It is right that the Liberal Democrats have committed to implementing affordability checks, but it is vital that those checks protect vulnerable problem gamblers and their families, rather than deterring wealthy players, who help underpin the sport. One analysis shows that enhanced financial risk checks in horseracing, if implemented badly, could result in the sport losing £50 million a year. Similarly, a British Horseracing Authority survey suggests that 40% of bettors would turn to the black market if affordability checks were too stringent. Given that remote betting turnover, which accounts for at least 70% of all betting, continues to decline, the industry cannot afford to see that level of financial support just walk away. The Government must work with the industry to implement robust and frictionless affordability checks.

Racecourses, training yards and breeding operations are largely based in rural areas such as Wincanton and play an important economic role in those areas. Some 20,000 people are directly employed by the horseracing industry, and it supports another 65,000 jobs in supply chains. There is a real opportunity for the Government to ensure that local people in rural areas can access these jobs, by boosting the availability and take-up of apprenticeships and expanding higher vocational training. The lower apprentice rate should be scrapped to guarantee that everyone working in the horseracing industry receives at least the national minimum wage. That is particularly important in rural areas such as Glastonbury and Somerton, where people still typically need to spend an additional 10% to 20% more on everyday requirements than those in urban areas due to the rural premium.

We should not forget that horseracing also plays an important cultural and social role at the heart of rural communities such as mine. In Glastonbury and Somerton, charities such as Racing to School are doing valuable work to provide curriculum-based visits to Wincanton racecourse for local schools. A day at the races is also an important way for many in rural communities, including the elderly, to socialise. I urge the Government to strike a balance between protecting these vulnerable groups, tackling the harms of problem gambling and ensuring that people are not unduly deterred from the sport.

Coming from a farming family and having ridden horses for much of my life, I care deeply about the welfare of the horses at the heart of this industry. The UK has some of the highest welfare standards in the world, including in horseracing, but I fear that that may slip unless the Government take steps to address the domestic vet shortage. Half of vets leaving the industry have been in the profession for less than four years. Recruitment and retention are significantly more challenging in rural areas such as Glastonbury and Somerton.

To conclude, I urge the Government to work with the horseracing industry to introduce real safeguards and guardrails that support the progress that the industry has already made, such as the Betting and Gaming Council’s new voluntary code on consumer checks. The priority must always be to protect problem gamblers from being exploited by predatory gambling companies, rather than saddling the horseracing industry with tax rises to fix the financial mess left behind by the previous Conservative Government.