Prime Minister Gordon Brown will not attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, Downing Street says.
However, he will be at the closing ceremony when the Olympic baton will be passed to London.
A spokeswoman said Mr Brown had never planned to attend the ceremony and was not boycotting the Games.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said Mr Brown "seems to do the right thing late in the day when he is forced to do so because of public opinion".
Mr Clegg, speaking to Channel Four News, branded the move a "last-minute U-turn".
The Olympics minister Tessa Jowell will represent the UK at the opening in Beijing in August.
Full Article
This could potentially harm the U.K.'s foreign relations around the world.
Grade this
However, he will be at the closing ceremony when the Olympic baton will be passed to London.
A spokeswoman said Mr Brown had never planned to attend the ceremony and was not boycotting the Games.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said Mr Brown "seems to do the right thing late in the day when he is forced to do so because of public opinion".
Mr Clegg, speaking to Channel Four News, branded the move a "last-minute U-turn".
The Olympics minister Tessa Jowell will represent the UK at the opening in Beijing in August.
Full Article
This could potentially harm the U.K.'s foreign relations around the world.
Grade this
