The one-off debate - chaired by BBC broadcaster John Inverdale - saw the three candidates vying to be the Minister for Sport following the General Election, which is expected to be held at the beginning of May, agree that in an uncertain economic time, cuts to sport’s funding in Britain are inevitable.

Robertson said: "I wouldn’t cut Exchequer funding of sport but in all honesty, none of us here knows what expenditure cuts there will be.

"I would do everything I can [as Minister for Sport] to protect sport’s case when the next Government expenditure cuts take place but it is impossible to predict how they will go."

Sutcliffe claimed that Britain’s "Decade of Sport" - during which the UK will host the 2012 Olympics, the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup, the 2019 Cricket World Cup and perhaps the 2018 FIFA World Cup - will no doubt provide a boost for sport within the House of Commons.

He said: "The decade of sport will keep sport high on the political agenda."

Sutcliffe also defended claims that London 2012 will leave no legacy other than unused sporting facilities. 

He said: "As the Minister for Sport, I am privileged to travel the country and I am able to see how inspirational the 2012 Games are to children up and down the country.

"The Games will also provide the country with world class sporting facilities that will allow Britain to produce more world class athletes."



In addition, Sutcliffe revealed that the Olympic Stadium will maintain its athletics track regardless of whether it is taken over by Premier League West Ham United.

He said: "One of the key things for me is that there should be an athletics track, as we promised when we bid for the Games.

"You can’t break that promise."

Amongst other news to emerge from the debate, the Conservative and Liberal Democrat spokesmen stated that too much Lottery money - approximately £120 million - is taken from the National Lottery via taxation and all three stated that they have no plans to bail-out football clubs in debt .

Sutcliffe said: "Football must run football rather than the Government."

Asked by Inverdale to summarise what they particularly wanted to achieve should be appointed Minister for Sport, Foster stated: "A raised status of sport within the Government."

Robertson said: "Mass sports participation following London 2012."

Sutcliffe said: "An increase in the role of sports coaches."

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Pictures taken by Steve Rowe/SJA