A coalition of MPs from across England and Wales has urged John Prescott to back Brighton and Hove Albion's move to Falmer.

In a rare show of solidarity, more than 40 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion asking the Deputy Prime Minister to approve a new stadium.

They include four of the five Labour MPs in Sussex: Des Turner (Brighton Kemptown), David Lepper (Brighton Pavilion), Laura Moffatt (Crawley) and Michael Foster (Hastings and Rye).

Hove MP Ivor Caplin supports the plans but is unable to sign the motion because he is a Government minister.

It is unusual for a motion relating to a particular area to attract such widespread support but MPs from Cornwall to Carlisle have rallied behind the club's plans for a 22,000-seat stadium.

Even both MPs in Portsmouth, Albion's fiercest rivals after Crystal Palace, have signed the motion.

One of them, Mike Hancock, is a Liberal Democrat whose pro-stadium stance conflicts with the opposition of Lewes Lib Dem Norman Baker.

No Conservative MPs in Sussex have yet signed the motion but eight Tories nationwide have joined 32 Labour MPs and Mr Hancock in a public show of support for the stadium.

Early Day Motion 889 says the House of Commons: *Congratulates Brighton and Hove Albion FC on its success since returning to Brighton in 1999. *Further congratulates the club for its hard work in partnership with the local authority and elected representatives to develop a community stadium at Falmer. *Believes that the only suitable site for a community stadium is at Falmer. *Welcomes the economic and socio-economic benefits that will accrue to the club, the community of Brighton and Hove and the local authority, directly through increased tourism, educational opportunities, skills training and employment, which will also be beneficial for the country. *Further recognises the development will complement national government objectives, by incorporating sustainable transport strategies, and will promote social inclusion by providing a focus from which to build community programmes. *Welcomes the club's vision of building on its existing community links and expanding its successful Football in the Community programme within the new facility. *Believes the community and wider benefits of the proposed stadium at Falmer far outweigh any negligible impact on the Sussex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. *Recognises the evidence given by national organisations during the public inquiry demonstrating the stadium is in the national interest. *Acknowledges the overwhelming public support for the plans at every stage of consultation. *Commends the Falmer site proposal to the Deputy Prime Minister.

Burnley Labour MP Peter Pike, who submitted the motion, said: "Football fans everywhere know how important local clubs are to the town in which they are based and the mutual benefits that grow out of that relationship."

Paul Samrah, chairman of the Falmer For All campaign, said: "We urge John Prescott to listen and say Yes to Falmer."

Albion fans are asking stadium supporters to help persuade even more MPs to sign the motion.

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Friday April 02, 2004