UFO Info Week-End

Tony Blair is the perfect man to lead the charge on the euro

“Tony Blair is the perfect man to lead the charge on the euro. The sooner the better, because industry depends on us joining.”. Football fans convicted or suspected of hooliganism will be banned for life from English grounds under new government measures to stamp out the violence that has scarred the Euro 2000 championships. Football fans convicted or suspected of hooliganism will be banned for life from English grounds under new government measures to stamp out the violence that has scarred the Euro 2000 championships.
In a desperate attempt to restore the reputation both of English football and the Home Office, Jack Straw announced a raft of proposals aimed at preventing further disruption in Belgium and the Netherlands. Uefa, European football’s governing body, has threatened to expel the England from the competition if there is any repetition of the street skirmishes that marred the team’s victory over Germany at the weekend.At a press conference the England coach, Kevin Keegan, pleaded with fans to behave and said he fully supported the action taken by Uefa. Adam Crozier, chief executive of the Football Association, said the organisation was “exploring the idea of compensation” for victims of the violence.

The Belgian government also demanded compensation for the damage caused.With England’s 2006 World Cup bid in jeopardy, the Home Secretary unveiled the life-ban sanction in an attempt to ensure a trouble-free game against Romania tonight.As Tony Blair condemned those responsible for bringing “a disgrace to our country”, the Home Secretary announced measures to ban all 400 fans deported from Belgium from returning to the tournament. In an emergency Commons statement, Mr Straw revealed that the FA and Premier League clubs had agreed that any supporter convicted or even suspected of hooliganism will be banned for life from attending matches in England. He also announced an increase in the British police presence in Belgium, at British ports and on carriers such as Eurostar and the Channel ferries. Carriers have been given the names of the 400 deported fans and have been asked not to take them.The Government called on the Belgian authorities to repeat the example of the Dutch and sell only low-alcohol beer ahead of tonight’s game. Belgian and Dutch authorities were also asked to mark the passports of those they deport.In the medium term, the Government will consider introducing new legislation to create a single banning order for both domestic and international matches, with mandatory passport conditions.

Mr Straw told MPs: “We witnessed our fellow citizens engaged in appalling drunken violence on the streets of Belgium. These people have disgraced the nation and our national game.”Mr Blair told the Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, at the EU summit in Portugal, that he “deeply regretted” the violence. “Everybody in England feels deeply ashamed at the way these hooligans have behaved,” Mr Blair said.. The Labour MPs Glenda Jackson and Diane Abbott will today be given top jobs in Ken Livingstone’s London mayoral cabinet, The Independent has discovered. The Labour MPs Glenda Jackson and Diane Abbott will today be given top jobs in Ken Livingstone’s London mayoral cabinet, The Independent has discovered.
Ms Jackson, who came third in the selection contest for Labour’s candidate for mayor, will tackle homelessness in the capital. Ms Abbott will have responsibility for race and equality issues.With the appointment of John McDonnell as cabinet member overseeing local government and consultation, the move means that three Labour MPs will be members of the Mayor’s team. However, with Greens and Liberal Democrats also being given portfolios, the Livingstone administration aims to become a model of cross-party, inclusive politics.

All parties were offered posts, but only the Conservatives rejected the approaches.Ms Jackson backed Frank Dobson as the official Labour candidate for mayor, but has often criticised the party’s selection process.The former transport minister’s appointment is one of the main surprises that will be unveiled today when the cabinet appears for its first meeting. Other new appointments include Richard Stone, a GP who first led the campaign against Dame Shirley Porter’s alleged influencing of electoral rolls of Westminster council.As expected, Nicky Gavron, a Labour member of the Greater London Assembly, will become Deputy Mayor with responsibility for planning.Labour’s Valerie Shawcross will chair the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, while the Liberal Democrat Lord Tope will have the human rights portfolio.Darren Johnson, the Green Party group leader, will oversee the environment. Judith Mayhew, who chairs the Corporation of London’s powerful policy and resources committee, will take on the City and business job. George Barlow, a senior figure at Peabody Housing Trust, will chair the London Development Agency.However, Mr Livingstone has kept faith with some of the more radical members of his campaign team, appointing Kumar Murshid in charge of regeneration and Lee Jasper in charge of race relations.All the posts are described as “advisory” and, in a unique approach to regional administration, Mr Livingstone will stress that his cabinet will not have to abide by collective cabinet responsibility.Instead, members will be able to express their own views even if they conflict with those of the Mayor.

Mr Livingstone will, however, have the final say over key issues.Mr Livingstone said last night he was satisfied his team would be representative of the different groups making up the capital. “In putting together my advisory cabinet, I have been keen to ensure that its members reflect the full spectrum of London,” he said. “All these people have been chosen on merit and because they have consistently demonstrated convincing leadership in their respective fields of expertise. [The cabinet] contains representatives with solid backgrounds in such diverse issues as minority ethnic groups, women’s rights and the environment, as well as business, industry and urban regeneration.”The Greater London Authority said last night that the Mayor would expect each of his cabinet members to present him with the “most honest advice” on the tasks facing him.”The absence of collective responsibility should not be interpreted as implying that the Mayor will devolve or federalise his powers Under the legislation, all decisions are made by the Mayor. Members of the cabinet will not be bound by decisions and there will be no votes,” a spokesman said..