Portsmouth MP Stephen Morgan is backing calls for central Government funding towards public screenings of the World Cup.

Following Mr Morgan’s calls to the city council’s Leader, Dr Rosena Allin- Khan MP, Shadow Minister for Sport, has urged the Government to release funds for local councils to safely screen World Cup matches in public spaces across the nation.

Whilst offering his parties support, Mr Morgan has been putting pressure, backed by constituents, on Cllr Vernon-Jackson to do everything possible to get the council to play the England matches in a public place in Portsmouth.

In her letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Allin-Khan says:

‘If our Government were to support local authorities with the cost of putting on these events it would bring the nation together and send the message to the England team that we really are all rooting for them. It’s coming home – we must embrace it.’

The Government appears to be listening to the Shadow Ministers plea. It was announced yesterday that England’s Semi-Final match against Croatia will be screened at Hyde Park in London on Wednesday evening.

Stephen Morgan MP said:

“If England reach the World Cup Final it will be a momentous occasion for the whole country and what better way for the people of our great city to show their support than to have the match screened in Portsmouth.

“It seems the only barrier to this happening is cost. That is why I am backing the Shadow Minister’s campaign to release funding. With councils already stretched financially, central funding will ease the burden.”

Continuing Stephen’s campaign for screening in Portsmouth he added:

“With the potential of the Government carrying the cost, Portsmouth has no excuse. As our local paper says, ‘when our city goes big, it does things well’.

“England aren’t within arm’s reach of the World Cup final every year – I don’t want fans in Pompey to miss this opportunity and have to wait another 50 years!”

“I urge the council leader to step up and deliver for Portsmouth.”