Independent Commission
for Equity in Cricket Report
(Slough) (Lab)
7. What assessment she has made of the implications for her
policies of the report of the Independent Commission for Equity
in Cricket entitled “Holding Up a Mirror To Cricket” published in
June 2023. (906073)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and
Sport ()
Discrimination has no place in sport or wider society. The ICEC
report makes for difficult reading. Clearly, the sport needs to
reflect carefully on the report’s concerning findings and
consider how best to deliver clear and sustained cultural change
across cricket. The Government will review the findings of the
report, and we welcome the England and Wales Cricket Board’s
commitment to bring forward a plan to tackle these serious
issues, which must be addressed in full.
Mr Dhesi
After the exposés of whistleblowers such as Azeem
Rafiq the “Holding Up a Mirror to Cricket” report
lays bare the extent of racism, sexism and classism in cricket.
Over the past couple of years, we have seen scandals in cricket,
abuse in gymnastics, a whole plethora of issues unearthed by the
fan-led review into football and the sport of rugby union
undertaking a review into its governance, and I fear that, sadly,
there will be further such examples. Just how confident is the
Minister that structures are in place to deal with inappropriate
and unacceptable behaviour in sport, and does he now feel that
there is a need to look into governance in sport more widely?
I have made that issue a priority in the time that I have been in
this role, because it does need addressing. I hold regular
meetings with the national governing bodies of all the sports and
I have laid down challenges to them. We need to work together,
though. That is why this will form an important part of the new
sports strategy. I know that it has taken some time, but I have
been really clear that I want that issue to be included in it,
and to be a central plank of the work that we do when we publish
it.
Mr (Old Bexley and Sidcup)
(Con)
In my constituency we have fantastic grassroots cricket clubs
promoting inclusivity in the sport during their cricket weeks.
That includes clubs such as Sidcup and national club champions
Bexley cricket club. Will my right hon. Friend join me in
thanking the clubs for the work that they do to promote cricket
in our community, especially to women and girls, and Bexley
cricket club for its efforts to raise funds to address cardiac
risk in the young?
My hon. Friend is right to highlight that not everything is bad.
Let us recognise some of the amazing work, particularly of
volunteers, who do so much for grassroots sport. He highlights a
club in his constituency. It is not just about encouraging more
people to take part in sport; clubs also do tremendous work in
the community, as he has just highlighted with the fundraising
that that club has done.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Manchester Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
I wish you a restful recess, Mr Speaker. I put on the record my
hopes that the Lionesses do very well in the forthcoming World
cup. Congratulations to the women’s English cricket team on a
strong performance, and good luck to the men’s cricket team in
trying to pull off a great Ashes comeback. I just hope that the
Manchester rain holds off.
Despite the teams’ successes on the international stage, the ICEC
report showed that there is a lot to do to increase diversity and
participation in cricket. It found that English cricket suffers
from sexism, elitism and racism. Do the Government understand
that they also have a role to play in addressing those serious
findings? For example, what discussions has the Minister had with
the Department for Education about increasing the take-up of
cricket in state schools and ensuring better access to pitches,
equipment and coaching? Also, does he agree—I am sure he
does—that it is about time that the women’s team had as much
access to Lord’s cricket ground as Eton and Harrow?
I join the hon. Lady in wishing the men and women’s England
cricket teams all the very best, and thanking them for what they
have done so far, as well as the Lionesses. I am very fortunate
that I will be off to Australia on Monday to wave the flag in
support of them. [Interruption.] It is a very difficult job, but
someone has to do it.
On the serious point that the hon. Lady raises, she is absolutely
right. On the day of the publication of the report, my right hon.
Friend the Secretary of State met with the England and Wales
Cricket Board. We have said that we will be following the
development of its plan very carefully. The hon. Lady is right
that we need to see more access to facilities for women and
girls, not just at Lord’s but right across the country.
