MP Gerry Sutcliffe is to reopen the question of building a national sporting stadium in the city.

On Monday, the Bradford South Labour MP will renew calls for a second major venue in the North of England to compliment Wembley.

Mr Sutcliffe has won a half-hour debate in the House of Commons where he will urge ministers to reconsider their decision to develop Wembley Stadium as a single main national sports showpiece.

Originally, when the Government came up with the idea of a national sports stadium for the 21st century, it asked for nominations from all over the UK.

Bradford put in a bid which was described as "creative" but turned down in favour of redeveloping Wembley. But now the scheme for the London venue is running badly behind schedule and is at the risk of losing key Lottery and Sports Council grants.

Mr Sutcliffe will demand action from the Government to get the Wembley scheme back on track and raise the question of a second stadium in the north - preferably in Bradford.

Mr Sutcliffe said: "When they held the competition we all thought it was something of a charade and no one was surprised when Wembley won.

"But we put forward a strong case for a second national stadium in the north of England which was rejected.

"Now there are problems with the redevelopment of Wembley which is in danger of missing crucial deadlines.

"Backed by Wembley's two local MPs Barry Gardener and Gareth Thomas, I want assurances on Monday night that the Wembley Stadium Project will go ahead on time so we have a proper national stadium.

"But in addition, I shall reopen the question of whether we should have a second national stadium in the north of England along the lines of those being developed in Cardiff for Wales and at Hampden Park for Scotland.

"In my view Bradford would be the ideal site.

"It would increase the chances of England winning the World Cup for 2006 by having two major national stadiums for big games as well as getting other major international sporting events.''

Mr Sutcliffe's plea comes 24 hours after the Telegraph & Argus revealed that John Garside, the man behind the planned Superdome project, had appointed a finance director to take his ambitious scheme forward.

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