This is the first in a series examining how the UK’s major political parties approach football policy.

While many try to keep politics and football apart, The Football Faculty is doing the opposite, digging into what Britain’s politicians really have to say about the game that unites (and divides) the nation. First up: Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats, and their increasingly vocal campaign to reshape how fans experience the modern game.

A Party that’s found its voice in Football

In recent years, the Liberal Democrats have been among the most consistent critics of football governance in England. The party has repeatedly urged successive governments to establish an independent football regulator, arguing that fans should be placed at the heart of decision-making.

Davey has also taken direct aim at UEFA’s handling of club ownership disputes, particularly its treatment of English sides like Crystal Palace in multi-club ownership cases before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). His message has been clear: football governance must work for supporters, not boardrooms.

Tackling the cost of watching the game

At the party’s September conference, Davey doubled down on another long-standing Lib Dem priority, making football more affordable for ordinary fans. Alongside fellow MPs, he renewed calls to “tear down the paywall” that keeps live Premier League matches behind expensive subscription services.

In July, the party tabled an amendment to the Football Governance Bill, proposing that at least 10 Premier League games a season should be broadcast on free-to-air television. According to Lib Dem polling, a majority of voters feel that subscriptions offer poor value for money, a sentiment that’s only grown during the cost-of-living crisis.

That position was reinforced last year in a letter from Calum Miller, Lib Dem MP for Bicester and Woodstock, to the Culture Secretary:

“This must be the last Premier League season locked behind the paywall.
Football is the most popular sport in the UK, deeply rooted in our culture. But ticket prices have soared, and millions are priced out of watching their team.
It’s time to give football back to the country.”

The data supports the Lib Dems’ concern. The average age of a Premier League match-going fan is now estimated to be in the mid-40s, as younger supporters are increasingly priced out. With rising ticket prices and escalating subscription costs, many fans are being pushed toward illegal streaming or out of the game entirely.

It’s a troubling prospect: a “lost generation” of fans, alienated from the sport that has long been Britain’s cultural heartbeat.

Lessons from Cricket’s Playbook

The Lib Dems argue that free-to-air access can work and they have a point. In cricket, the Hundred has benefited from a shared broadcasting model between BBC and Sky Sports, helping the sport reach younger and more diverse audiences. Around 30% of viewers are women and 20% are under 18, figures that would have seemed unthinkable a decade ago.

For football, 10 free Premier League games a season hardly seems radical. With room still available in the league’s existing broadcasting structure, a small concession could deliver significant long-term benefits in engagement and inclusivity.

Will the Government Finally Listen?

On football policy, the Lib Dems have shown a rare combination of consistency and creativity. Their proposals to make football more accessible, better regulated, and more fan-focused have resonated well beyond their voter base.

Yet, for all their energy, they remain a small voice in Westminster. The real question is whether the government, or the Premier League itself, will finally listen. Because while the Lib Dems might not hold power, their message captures something many supporters already feel: football belongs to the fans, not just those who can afford it.