Maxwell opposed to anti-Thatcher gesture

Press, 29 July 1986, Page 3

Maxwell opposed to anti-Thatcher gesture

ROBIN CHARTERIS

By

in Edinburgh

The newspaper magnate and former Labour member of Parliament, Mr Robert Maxwell, the man who sees himself as the last minute saviour of the financially troubled Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, has put the Labour-dominated Edinburgh District Council in its place. Answering a request from the council head, the Lord Provost, Mr John McLay, for the Commonwealth Games organising committee to withdraw an invitation to British Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, to attend the Games because of Britain’s stance on the South African boy-

cott issue, the new Games co-chairman was uncompromising.

In asking Mrs Thatcher, Mr Maxwell said, “You repeat the errors of the Commonwealth countries whose boycott has cruelly prevented so many fine athletes from competing in Edinburgh. “I believe your authority is seeking publicity in as offensive a manner as it can devise. What you propose is a gesture, a form of political sloganising without substance.” Referring, to a slogan campaign by the Edinburgh Council against South African sports participation last year, Mr Maxwell said that had resulted in the refusal of television companies to

televise the Dairy Crest Games in Edinburgh.’X “That gesture has also caused losses of sponsorship to these Commonwealth Games, thus causing direct financial losses to all Edinburgh ratepayers. “I have frequently said that these are not Mrs Thatcher’s Games. Equally, they are not Edinburgh District Council’s either. They belong to the Commonwealth. “Mrs Thatcher was invited a long time ago as head of the Government of the country hosting the Games. Any other Commonwealth head of Government would be equally welcome, whether or not his or her political stance accords with our own.”