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    Premier League clubs WON’T face up to 10% tax on transfers under Labour, Starmer says in breakneck U-turn after backlash

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    PREMIER League clubs will NOT be taxed millions of pounds when buying star players, Sir Keir Starmer said today in a breakneck u-turn.The Labour leader slapped down his shadow sports secretary who only yesterday opened the door to a transfer levy.Sir Keir Starmer on a visit to Bristol Rovers football ground yesterdayCredit: GettyShadow Sports Secretary Thangam Debbonaire (right) floated a transfer tax yesterdayCredit: GettyIt would see top-flight teams like his beloved Arsenal pay up to 10 per cent tax on each purchase to help fund struggling lower leagues.But just hours after putting the proposal back on the table, Labour pulled the plug following backlash. Asked about the prospect this morning, Sir Keir told LBC: “No, let me just kill that one, we’re not looking at that.”The idea was first proposed in the independent fan-led review carried out in 2021 by Tory MP Tracey Crouch but not taken on by the government. READ MORE ELECTION NEWSYesterday Labour’s sports chief Thangham Debbonaire said the party would revisit the report to see if more bits could be added to legislation.Speaking to reporters at Bristol Rovers’ ground, she said: “I’m going to look at everything again that was in Tracey Crouch’s fan-led review.Watch our daily politics show
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    “I think it’s important we go back to first principles just to make sure there’s not something that’s been missed that is needed in order to ensure the financial sustainability.”Pressed if the prospect of a transfer levy was back on the table, she added: “I’m obviously going to look at absolutely everything that was in Tracy’s review.”Most read in FootballLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer will set out his party’s plan for government if they win the July 4 electionA transfer levy was one of the few ideas in the fan-led review that was not adopted by the current government in its Football Governance Bill to overhaul the sport’s finances.It could have raised hundreds of millions of pounds to redistribute into cash-starved lower league teams.Report author Ms Crouch said: “This would work in a similar way to stamp duty and distribute revenues across the pyramid and into grassroots.”  The paper added: “If a 10 per cent levy had been applied in the last five seasons, an estimated £160 million per year could have been raised for redistribution.”The move was seen as a step too far after already committing to an independent regulator to oversee the game.Labour backed the Tories’ plan and have committed to taking it on if they win power. More

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      Make Hey Jude England’s new football anthem urge Sunak & Starmer after Jude Bellingham’s Euro 2024 Serbia heroics

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      RISHI Sunak and Keir Starmer both urged the nation to sing Hey Jude after Bellingham’s sensational header clinched England’s 1-0 win over Serbia.The PM and Labour leader’s good luck call came as a leap in sales of the Beatles’ 1968 classic was set to send it up the charts.Jude Bellingham’s sensational header clinched England’s 1-0 win over SerbiaCredit: GettyRishi Sunak urged the nation to sing Hey Jude after Bellingham’s goalCredit: AFPSir Keir Starmer’s good luck call came as a leap in sales of the Beatles’ 1968 classic was set to send it up the chartsCredit: AFPSir Paul McCartney wrote Hey Jude – which looks set to race up the chartsCredit: GettyChesney Hawkes led Three Lions fans in a singalong at the Boxpark fanzone in CroydonCredit: LNPRishi said: “We want more goals and more singing Hey Jude.”Bellingham’s goal and stellar performance secured a 1-0 win over Serbia, with thousands belting out the 1968 Beatles anthem in his honour on Sunday night.Music site Spotify said downloads had rocketed 19 per cent overnight, and are set to rise further.Rishi urged England fans to chant that instead of the war-related Ten German Bombers which has upset some of the locals.Read More on SportThe PM said yesterday: “It’s great to see England get our Euros campaign off to a winning start, the whole country is behind them to go all the way. “And when it comes to the chants specifically, I agree with what Gareth Southgate has said about that chant in the past.“What we want is to represent the best of our country at these tournaments – and that means more goals for Jude Bellingham and more singing of Hey Jude.”In a rare show of election unity, Arsenal fan Sir Keir Starmer agreed.Most read in Euro 2024The Labour leader told The Sun: “What better way of celebrating our new wonderkid Bellingham than belting out the classic Hey Jude?”He added: “Our songs should be about backing the players on the pitch rather than anything else.”Jude Bellingham reacts to match winning England display in euro 2024 opener against SerbiaStourbridge-born Jude – who shot to fame with Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid – revealed he feels proud to hear England fans singing his name. He said after his heroics in Gelsenkirchen: “I like the Beatles, I listen to the Beatles a lot. “My style of music is a bit old so that’s right up my street. “I really enjoy playing in front of the England fans, it’s a different experience for me because obviously I play abroad.“They give me a lot of appreciation and a lot of love and I try to give that back with my performances and energy on the pitch.”EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYAs its writer Sir Paul McCartney celebrates his 82nd birthday today, Hey Jude looks set to race up the charts — and replace Sweet Caroline and Football’s Coming Home as England’s anthem.Pop star Chesney Hawkes led Three Lions fans in a singalong at the Boxpark fanzone in Croydon, South London, on Sunday night. West Ham fan Chesney, England’s lucky mascot at the World Cup in Qatar, said: “Jude was amazing last night. “I knew he would be so Hey Jude was the perfect song to sing. “As soon as I started, the whole crowd joined in. “It was incredible.”How England rated vs Serbia… as Bellingham shines but TWO big names get 5s
      JUDE BELLINGHAM was England’s head boy as Gareth Southgate’s side made a winning start in Germany.
      The Real Madrid superstar oozed class throughout and broke the deadlock with only 13 minutes played thanks to an excellent header, dispatching Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross.
      But, despite the brilliant start, it was a nervy affair here in Gelsenkirchen.
      Serbia exerted significant pressure in the second half, with a few narrow escapes for Southgate’s men.
      Harry Kane barely had a kick and the Premier League’s player of the year Phil Foden struggled to have any influence on the left of the Three Lions’ front three.
      Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated England’s stars… with TWO stars getting just a 5.

      Jude’s social media profile is rocketing, as he gained 1.6million followers on Instagram in the run-up to the Euros. He now has 33.2million, nearly twice the next-highest in the England squad, skipper Harry Kane with 17million.Sir Paul yesterday announced his first UK tour dates in six years — playing Manchester and London in December.READ MORE SUN STORIESViewing figures for Sunday night’s game peaked at 15million, with an average of 10.5million, the BBC said yesterday.Train services were cancelled after drivers and staff refused to work overtime on the day of England’s opening group game.Jude said: ‘I like the Beatles, I listen to the Beatles a lot’Credit: Getty More

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      Banning England fans from drinking strong lager at Euros is ‘discriminatory’….‘we’re being picked on’, minister says

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      SERVING England fans shandy beers instead of full-strength booze at the Euros is “discriminatory”, a Government minister has blasted.Policing Minister Chris Philp declared offering Three Lions followers “watered-down” pints at England’s opening game against Serbia on Sunday was “completely unfair”.Policing Minister Chris Philp told The Sun on Sunday’s Kate Ferguson that the booze measures were ‘completely unfair’Full strength beer at the England versus Serbia game has been banned and replaced with low alcohol boozeCredit: GettyThe heavy-handed security measures threatened to spark a diplomatic incident with the minister fuming: “We should not be getting picked on in that way.”It comes after tournament mandarins in Germany scrapped full-strength booze amid fears Serbian yobs are planning to face off with tipsy English footy followers at the 62,000-seater Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen.England fans had been looking forward to throwing back the 4.8 per cent strength Bitburger Premium in stadium bars but the brew will now be replaced by the much weaker 2.5 per cent “Radler-style” beer — half lager and half citrus soda.Speaking to our Never Mind The Ballots election countdown show, Policing Minister Chris Philip blasted: “If England fans have somehow been picked out or singled out and served watered-down beer based on their nationality, that sounds to me completely unfair.Read more about Euro 2024“And probably discriminatory – we should not be getting picked on in that way.”Risk ratings were ramped up from “high” to “very high” for Sunday’s clash with Serbia amid fears 500 hardcore pro-Putin footy yobs will travel to spark clashes with England fans.[embedded content]Worries were amplified by a UEFA ban on segregation in the stadium — putting rival supporters next to each other in mixed seating.Gelsenkirchen police spokesman Stephan Knipp told The Sun: “It is just the England game which will have the low-strength beer. The other games at the stadium will have 4.8 per cent.”Most read in Euro 2024England fans will also be subjected to a last-minute booze ban in the city centre before the kick-off at 8pm UK time.Watch our daily politics show
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      England’s last Euros opener abroad was in 2016, when highly organised Russian yobs — believed to be state-sponsored — put scores of Three Lions fans in hospital in Marseille, France.An estimated 40,000 England fans are expected to travel to Sunday’s game, along with 8,000 Serbs, plus more from Serbian communities in Germany.Speaking about the safety of England fans in Germany, he said: “It’s really important that these games pass off peacefully.“I know there are UK police officers over in Germany, helping the German police, targeting and looking at monitoring fans that might cause a problem.“Fans that are violent and might cause a problem are not allowed to travel because they have banning orders.”Heavy-handed German cops have also said they will step in and fine anyone wearing a fake footy top under strict counterfeit and trademark laws.Police officers will reportedly be able to issue fines of up to £4,000 – although it is unclear if authorities are actually planning to enforce the law.Mr Philp said the matter was “something you wouldn’t expect the police to get involved in”.He went on: “I don’t know the details but it does sound quite heavy-handed.“Certainly as far as a ban is concerned, they might get involved in stopping people selling fake shirts – that would be a usual thing for them to be involved in.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I obviously in no way condone using (fake) shirts. I think you should buy shirts from legitimate vendors because that money goes back into the grassroots.“So people should not be buying fake shirts.”The minister added England footy fans should not be ‘picked on’ for their nationalityCredit: PA More