HC Deb 28 June 2004 vol 423 cc14-5
10. Mr Andrew Mackay (Bracknell) (Con)

How the Government will help increase public support for the 2012 London Olympic bid. [180470]

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell)

Public visibility and conviction about community gain and relevance are, I think, the two ways in which we will build public awareness and support for the bid. To that end, the Government are working very closely with London 2012 in order to maximise our chances of winning the bid. The decision will take place in July next year. I would also point to the degree and strength of cross-party support for our bid, which is another important asset in our favour.

Mr. Mackay

The Secretary of State will be aware that supporters of the bid on both sides of the House were desperately disappointed that we came only third in the first round. It seemed to us that the two areas in which we were marked down were public support and Government support. What more are the Government going to do—starting at the top with the Prime Minister—to take a lead so that we really win in 2012?

Tessa Jowell

If people looked at the figures for Paris and Madrid, the two countries that were ahead of us, they would find that one reason we were marked down was the uncertainty of the impending mayoral elections—[Interruption] It is a matter of fact that there was a small differential in our assessment on Government support because of the uncertainty created by the forthcoming mayoral elections.

Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove) (Con)

indicated dissent.

Tessa Jowell

It is a matter of fact. The second point is that the level of public support is consistent and, although it is high, we have to build on it. No one who was in the Mall on Saturday night, where 80,000 people welcomed the torch borne by Steve Redgrave to the centre of London, could have been in any doubt whatever about the level of public and Government support for the bid. I would be grateful if the right hon. Member for Bracknell (Mr. Mackay) would talk that up, rather than constantly cast doubt on it.