Embargo: Immediate, 5th May 2004
Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats, today asked the Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Questions about the safeguarding of the British Olympic team in Athens, following the bomb attack there. The Prime Minister replied that security was under review and the games should go ahead.
Mr Kennedy then asked Tony Blair whether the English cricket team should tour Zimbabwe. Mr Kennedy asked, "personally I am against. Is he against?". The Prime Minister said that he was against the tour.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Full text of exchange follows.
Rt. Hon. Charles Kennedy MP
Mr Speaker, in view of the very worrying bomb attack in Athens today, does the Prime Minister consider that there is any need for the Government to review the security measures they are continuing to put in place for the safeguarding of the interests of the British team at the summer Olympics?
The Prime Minister
We remain in constant dialogue with the Greek Government. No, our present view is that the games should go ahead as planned. Of course we are keeping things under review, but you cannot take that in any shape or form as an indication that that is about to change. We keep in constant dialogue with them but we have every faith in the way the Greek authorities are handling this
Rt. Hon. Charles Kennedy MP
Mr Speaker, another sporting-related subject of this week. What's the personal opinion of the Prime Minister as to whether the English cricket team should undertake their tour of Zimbabwe. Personally I am against. Is he against?
The Prime Minister
The position is just exactly as I set it out last time I was asked that question in the past. There is a difference however between speaking my personal view, which as I say was set out before at this despatch box, which was as I said then, that we would prefer them not to go. There is a difference between doing that and ordering them not to go which I think would step over the proper line. Now my Right Honourable Friend, the Foreign Secretary, is meeting the ECB tomorrow. I think many people, however, believe, rightly that the problem resides with the ITC.
ENDS
Return to May Prime Minister's Questions.
Return to Prime Minister's Questions.