A Liberal Democrat MP bizarrely called for a boycott of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year yesterday— because a Rugby League player was left off the shortlist.

Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, is even going to the trouble of tabling a motion in the House of Commons after Sam Burgess was omitted from the list.

Mr Mulholland, who is also the chairman of the Parliament’s rugby league group, has nothing better to do than be outraged that the former Bradford forward was not recognised for his contribution to South Sydney Rabbitohs’ NRL title triumph in Australia.

Mulholland said: “The UK produces outstanding athletes across a wide range of sports and I am sure it is a challenge to create a shortlist.

“But the sad thing is, it comes as no surprise that the BBC has failed to recognise one of the world’s best rugby league players in Sam Burgess. Sam is a genuine star and one of the greatest rugby league players to have ever played the ball.

“On behalf of the group, I have written to the BBC director general and I call on all rugby league fans to do the same. I also encourage all to boycott the vote unless Sam is rightly included.”

This led to the BBC coming out publicly to defend their 10-person shortlist in the afternoon.

A statement read: “It is inevitable that many very worthy sportspeople will have not made it on to the shortlist of contenders.

“The expert panel considered everyone and drew up the shortlist of candidates through consensus and then a vote. They selected the nominees on merit.”