MP Jamie Stone wants Prime Minister Boris Johnson to speak out on Qatar World Cup 'slave labour'

NORTH MP Jamie Stone has urged the Prime Minister to speak out on the "horrific" treatment of the migrant workers who are building the stadiums and infrastructure for the World Cup in Qatar next year.

He has called on Boris Johnson not "to bury his head in the sand" over what Mr Stone describes as "modern-day slavery".

The Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP spoke out after data compiled from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, showed 6500 migrant workers have died in Qatar since it won the right to host the World Cup over 10 years ago.

Mr Stone, who is his party's spokesman on sport, wants the Prime Minister to "speak out against slave labour" and the treatment of the migrant workers recruited to help build the stadiums and infrastructure required for the tournament.

Several human rights organisations have raised concerns about Qatar's treatment of migrant workers who arrived in the country following the successful World Cup bid. It is claimed the infrastructure needed for the competition has relied on the practice of modern-day slavery, with little to no action from the Qatari Government and minimal comment from the UK government.

Mr Stone said: "Fury over proposals for a European Super League has forced Boris Johnson to take action, but the league is just one example of how football has been hijacked by a privileged few.

"Johnson is talking a good game now, but if he is serious about the future of football, he must not stop here. The human rights abuses carried out by Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup are horrific. The stadiums have been built on the back of modern-day slavery. The government knows this but our Prime Minister continues to bury his head in the sand."

He added: "If the Tories really care about football, they will take action to save the game at all levels. Fans deserve more than an opportunistic Prime Minister who picks and chooses when he wants to care about football. The very spirit of the game is at stake."

Mr Stone hit out at the European Super League plans, which would have involved 12 teams from England, Spain and Italy, and described them as "a nonsense".

Massive opposition from fans, other clubs and politicians forced a rethink with the six English clubs – Manchester City, Manchester Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs – all withdrawing. Inter Milan from Italy and Spanish side, Atletico Madrid, also pulled out.

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