THE controversy over the American owners of Liverpool FC was raised in Parliament yesterday when they were labelled “asset strippers” in the House of Commons.

Walton’s new Labour MP, Steve Rotheram, used his maiden speech in the Commons to claim the actions of Tom Hicks and George Gillett threatened the club’s existence.

In a separate Commons motion, he has accused the pair of failing “to exercise responsible stewardship of the club”.

The Americans, who bought Liverpool FC in 2007, recently announced their intention to sell the club, which is £351m in debt.

It follows a period of crisis for LFC following a poor league performance, which culminated in the departure of manager Rafael Benitez.

Mr Rotheram, a former lord mayor, told MPs he was a “dyed-in-the-wool” Liverpool fan and an Anfield season ticket holder. But I would honestly say the same things if it was Everton FC that had been the victim of a leverage buyout that endangered its future survival and which has caused so many problems for my constituents living in close proximity to the football stadium.

“England’s most successful football club is slowly being drained by the greed of two American asset strippers and this is having a negative impact on regeneration projects for the whole area.

“Unfortunately the beautiful game does not always attract those with beautiful intentions.”

In an Early Day Motion tabled last week, Mr Rotheram expressed “dismay” at the Americans’ activities and their failure to be responsible stewards of LFC.

He also “regrets the failure to fulfil promises of a new stadium”.

In addition, the motion asked the house to support talks with supporters’ groups, and look to an early change of ownership.