You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Merseyside MP John Pugh is urging parliament to support Liverpool FC fans’ protest at the proposed hike in ticket prices next season.

The Southport Lib Dem has tabled an Early Day Motion at the House of Commons in support of LFC supporters who walked out of the Sunderland game on the 77th minute on Saturday.

In his motion the MP accused the club’s owners of “showing little regard to or respect for the club’s loyal fanbase”.

Dr Pugh said that Liverpool supporters Steve Rotherham, the Walton MP, and Alison McGovern, who represents Wirral South, “have already responded in support and others are expected to follow suit”.

Mr Pugh, himself a Liverpool supporter, said “football clubs like LFC should be the life and soul of their community” and added in a statement that “the increasingly corporate nature of the sport has come at the detriment of supporters who are being priced out of the game”.

Liverpool FC has now said it is considering an urgent review of the proposed new ticket costs in response to Saturday’s dramatic Anfield exodus.

More than 10,000 supporters headed for the exits as part of the protest against the planned changes which would see the most expensive matchday ticket next season rocket to £77.

Dr Pugh praised the decision to try and increase the number of young and local fans into Anfield but said more could still be done.

The MP said that the increase in TV revenue from next season was an opportunity to encourage more supporters to attend games at cheaper prices.

Mr Pugh has tabled the motion asking fellow MPs to work with local supporter groups across the country to prevent football becoming “entirely determined by money and economic interest”.

Early Day Motions are used by MPs to draw attention to particular causes, and support is usually shown by other MPs signing it, but they rarely result in a debate in parliament.

John Pugh’s Early Day Motion reads:

“This house supports the protests made by Liverpool Football Club supporters in response to ticket prices showing little regard to or respect for the club’s loyal fanbase, recognises that football clubs are not simply large businesses intent on maximising shareholder value but are part of the life and soul of their community and urges honourable members to seek further engagement with all stakeholders including supporters groups across the land to see what can be done to prevent professional football outcomes being entirely determined by money and economic interest.”