Liberated MCC hardly New Labour territory (30 September 1998)

30 September 1998

Liberated MCC hardly New Labour territory

By Robert Hardman

Like many supposedly earth-shattering rejections of tradition, I suspect that MCC's decision to open its doors to women will make little difference to the character of the place.

Although some elements of the media have painted it as the very essence of Blimpish Old Britain, it has always struck me as one of the least sniffy of London's best-known clubs.

MCC's membership is drawn together by a love of cricket rather than a desire for social exclusivity. That accounts for the variety of accents and backgrounds you will find inside it.

The class warriors may see MCC as a bastion of privilege, but it is really quite classless. I think that a woman who knows her cricket will blend in more easily than a man who does not know his.

I have sympathy for those who objected because they believed that MCC was being bulldozed by the forces of political correctness. But those who voted in favour of women were doing the right thing for cricket and that is what the club is all about.

I do not buy the idea that, if MCC had remained men only, England would have been the target of international mockery at next year's World Cup finals. In many parts of the cricketing world, women are second citizens who suffer far more serious discrimination than not being able to join a cricket club.

And people seem quite happy to take part in international golfing events in Scotland, despite the fact the Royal and Ancient is men-only and it still occupies a similarly important place in the firmament of its own particular sport.

The same could be said about Cowes Week, given the pivotal role of the all-male Royal Yacht Squadron.

What the vote has ensured is that there will be no state discrimination against cricket. Cricket was so closely identified with John Major that New Labour have always been a little suspicious about it. Neil Kinnock's aides used to moan that Mr Major was always being filmed watching cricket and yet no one ever came to film their man watching rugby.

The new Downing Street regime have made no effort to promote the game, preferring to present themselves as the footballing party. They were always going to be particularly hostile to a cricketing institution that not only appeared to be old and posh (both New Labour sins) but also sexist and unrepentant and which boasted John Major as a member.

The sports minister, Tony Banks, was only too pleased to announce earlier this year that MCC could kiss goodbye to any National Lottery money while it remained men-only.

Yesterday morning, as he discussed the MCC vote on the BBC, he recounted how he had broken the joyful tidings to "Tony and Cherie". They had been "delighted" by this victory for womankind, he said, as if he had just informed them of the liberation of the Falklands or the relief of Mafeking.

Haven't these people got a party conference to run and more important things to worry about? Did the last Government lecture traditional working men's clubs on their admission policies?

Having moved forwards, MCC's members will spare themselves the regular public broadsides which they have suffered. MCC can do a great deal more to promote cricket without a cold shoulder from the chattering classes and the Government.

THE news that Bernie Ecclestone, laird of Formula One, is to get his claws into the European Super League is full of promise. He should certainly give Europe's footballing bosses a run for their money.

Some of those football club chairmen who pride themselves on their flair for cutting deals will find that they are mere babes when they experience the Ecclestone style of stitching up adversaries. The prospect of a confrontation between Mr Ecclestone and someone like the FA's chief executive Graham Kelly is a delicious one.

It is also reported that Mr Ecclestone is in talks with the Murdoch empire. If those two jump into bed together, then sport really will never be the same again.

Like football clubs, motor racing teams are now prepared to go to any lengths to secure new talent. Hence, McLaren's sponsorship of Wesley Graves, a 12-year-old Leicestershire schoolboy, who has been showing promise on the go-karting circuit.

McLaren's boss Ron Dennis might like to approach two other youngsters with a striking flair for speed. Until it closed, Chelsea's F1 go-karting circuit recently attracted a string of big names, including Damon Hill, David Coulthard and Ron Dennis himself. None of them, however, beat the track record held by a certain "William Wales". His team-mate "Harry Wales" was no slouch either.

There is no reason why the Schumachers should be the only royal family of Formula One.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)