Gary Neville on BBC Breakfast: 'I love my life in…

Gary Neville on BBC Breakfast: 'I love my life in Greater Manchester too much' to work in politics

Gary Neville appeared on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday (September 27) and reiterated that his career was not heading towards politics.

The Manchester United legend, 47, previously slammed the Tory government as 'immoral' and was seen chatting to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at the party's annual conference in Liverpool on Monday. Neville joined hosts Jon Kay and Sally Nugent on the red sofa in MediaCity, Salford.

He was discussing the regulation in the Premier League and the issues that should be addressed - including sustainability, racism and homophobia and properly investing in women's games. He added: "For me to want government intervention into football, when you know what I think of this government, I think is pretty much a last resort."

When asked whether politics was where he was headed, Neville, who became a Labour member earlier this year, responded: "It's not where I'm headed." He added: "I'm absolutely positive. I love my life in Greater Manchester too much... I love my football work that I do too much.

"I feel politically motivated to speak out at this time because I don't want someone living in No 10 and 11 Downing Street - when people are worried about paying their energy bills and worried about how they're going to get through a winter - thinking about banker's bonuses and thinking that they should increase.

"I don't think it's right, I think it's immoral and I believe that over the last couple of years we've seen what have been really low standards in government and I would expect those things to change quite quickly. It's a tired, failing government this one.

"They've had their time, they're divided, they beat each other up in the leadership contest a few weeks ago."

Kay questioned him further, adding that Neville isn't 'really on the sidelines' if he is getting so involved. To that, the former England footballer said it's 'no longer good enough to stay silent when you've got a position and a platform.'

Neville continued: "I supported Keir yesterday. When people say 'can Keir Starmer be the next Prime Minister?' - he's had a serious job at the CPS being director of public prosecutions, a really serious role and he's proven that he can handle that.

"He's someone you can trust and he's someone that I think, to be fair, would be a very, very good Prime Minister and a great alternative to what we're seeing at this moment in time which is people in government who none of us can relate to."

It had previously been suggested that Neville could run to become an MP or Greater Manchester mayor if Andy Burnham steps down, but on Monday he said: “I think the reason that I can speak more directly and more to the point is because I'm not in politics. So I can go up there [to Labour conference in Liverpool] and speak from the heart.

“I think it’s far more beneficial for the Labour Party, as well as for me, to be a little bit of a loose cannon on the outside.”

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