Badenoch could have made points rather than just tried to score points

The Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch could have made a sophisticated, statesmanlike contribution to the debate around the Independent Football Regulator. Instead she resorted to simplistic politicking, trying to score points rather than make them.

Whatever your political hue, you want those at Westminster, whether in power or opposition, to have intellectual rigour, a conscience, awareness of national concerns, experience of the real world and to be well-informed. Politicians can have a huge impact on football. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy fought hard and successfully to save Wigan Athletic, the club in her constituency. Nandy is on the fans’ side. Badenoch’s comments place her on the owners’ side.

Badenoch came across in her Telegraph podcast interview as dismissive of fans’ fears and with no real understanding of such an important debate as how best to protect the national game. She voiced scepticism about the IFR last year in a Times Radio interview but it must be difficult to be in true opposition to a policy when it formed part of her own party’s General Election manifesto. The Football Supporters’ Association also claims to have correspondence Badenoch had with a North West Essex constituent in which she reportedly said, “I support these reforms”.

As Badenoch herself admits, the IFR is coming. So she could have spoken like a leader and made some sensible points to improve the process. There are legitimate concerns she could have raised about the IFR such as the need to make the right appointment as chair. Interviewing for the part-time, £130,000-a-year role is currently ongoing. Some of the interviewees are highly capable KCs. Badenoch could have re-emphasised the need for Ministers to make an appointment with a strong legal background without any political affiliations.

She could also have noted that one of the most respected people in football, Martyn Henderson, formerly chief executive of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, has been busily preparing the IFR as interim chief executive over the past 14 months. Good people can work on shadow operations, whether football regulator or cabinet.