Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, has called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to disclose all details of his interactions with the Abu Dhabi owners of Manchester City during his tenure as mayor of Greater Manchester. The demand follows a recent independent commission ruling that found Manchester City guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial regulations between 2009 and 2018.
Badenoch emphasized the importance of transparency, stating that if Burnham has nothing to hide, he should release all records of meetings and communications with the club’s ownership. She expressed surprise that the Prime Minister had not already taken this step, urging him to "open the box" to clarify his involvement and relationship with the club’s owners, who are majority-owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Abu Dhabi United Group.
Burnham previously expressed concern over the possibility of the Emirati owners selling Manchester City following the ruling, describing them as “a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester.” His comments drew criticism, prompting a Downing Street spokesperson to stress the seriousness of the verdict. The Prime Minister also compared Manchester City’s case with that of Everton, a club he supports, suggesting that the latter had been unfairly treated in a separate disciplinary matter.
The Premier League’s independent commission found that Manchester City had engaged in "sham" commercial deals where sponsors paid only part of their agreed fees, with the shortfall covered by the club’s owners. These arrangements were deemed an attempt to disguise funding and breach league financial rules. Manchester City has denied any wrongdoing and has lodged an appeal against the verdict.
The issue has heightened scrutiny of Burnham’s economic record in Manchester, where he has highlighted a building boom during his mayoralty. Critics, including Badenoch, suggest that if the Prime Minister’s narrative credits himself rather than the club’s owners for Manchester's recent development, the public deserves full disclosure to understand the true nature of those contributions.
The controversy emerged amid concerns from the UAE, which has warned it might withdraw billions of pounds in investment from the UK following the verdict. A senior city council official reportedly resigned in protest over a related land deal involving Manchester and UAE interests.
As calls for transparency intensify, Burnham faces pressure to clarify his role and dealings with Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owners, amidst ongoing legal and political ramifications of the Premier League’s ruling. The club continues to maintain its innocence and seeks to overturn the sanctions through its appeal.