Peers try to block 'political' Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson (from being Chair of Sport England)
Tory peers are trying to block one of Britain's most decorated Paralympians, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, from becoming chair of Sport England because they fear she would be "too political".
Prime Minister David Cameron must decide this weekend whether to bow to pressure from peers who believe she would be unsuitable to run the country's grassroots sports body. It was expected that her appointment would be rubber-stamped following her recommendation by the interviewing panel. Several unnamed members of the House of Lords, however, have made representations in private to Downing Street.
The cross-bench baroness is an acknowledged Labour supporter and a senior Whitehall source says her fierce criticism of the Government's disability benefit reforms has caused several peers to feel she might be "too political" for the job...
Mr Cameron himself is believed to be open-minded, and is worried that vetoing her appointment would be perceived as a political stitch-up. Those opposing Lady Grey-Thompson do not include Lord Coe or his predecessor as British Olympic Association chairman, Lord Moynihan, who are both supportive. Lord Coe was one of her referees and he spent some time with Mr Cameron on Friday afternoon pressing her claim. He said: "She would make an ideal chairman." The sports minister Hugh Robertson is also understood to support her for the job.
(More at link):
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/peers-try-to-block-political-paralympian-tanni-greythompson-8581494.html