Oct 20, 2008

Formula One in Political Pickle in UK

Racing is usually thought of, like other sports, as a largely frivolous pastime -- something to while away idle hours on weekends. But now that sports has become big business -- and Formula One racing one of the biggest of the big -- it has now reached deeply into the bowels of government, and a well-known politician might get covered in mud because of it.

The story goes like this: In January 1997, F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone made a 1 million pound donation to Britain’s Labour Party, the party of Prime Minister Tony Blair. In May of that year, Britain mandated a ban on sports advertising by tobacco firms, but after an October 16 meeting between Ecclestone and Blair, it is alleged that Blair then ordered his government to create an exemption from the ban for Formula One racing. By November 5 of that year, the ministers proposed an exemption for F1 from the tobacco advertising ban.

At the time, 11 years ago, there were rumors to the effect that Blair had accepted donations to his party in exchange for the exemption from the ban, but there was no “smoking gun” to prove such allegations, although Labour sent Bernie back his 1 million pounds just in case. But now, through Freedom of Information Act inquiries, it has been discovered that Blair seems to have been very instrumental in getting the exemption pushed forward, despite his many protests to the contrary. Among the efforts he is supposed to have made is an entreaty to health minister Tessa Jowell that she recommend an exemption for F1 racing. Blair also came out personally in favor of the exemption at the time but claimed that the Ecclestone donation had nothing to do with his opinion on the matter.

After the new revelations, House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin said he is deeply concerned at claims holding that Blair misled members of Parliament about the issue, and he suggested that an investigation of the incident is soon to come. In this instance, racing might well tarnish the legacy of a well-regarded politician and world leader and make it much harder for the current British government to stay in power. Not so frivolous any more, is it?