It has always been felt that the two sides never trusted each other. Under a strain like that imposed on it by the MMC decision, the fissiparous nature of the organisation may come to the fore again and prove fatal…A reader writes: Dear Mr Kington, Yes, very clever, we’ve all got the parallel between Microsoft and Labour, and between Tony Blair and Bill Gates, but where do you go from here ? You’re not going to set up the Tories as the fading threat of Apple Macintosh, are you?Miles Kington writes: Well, I was thinking about it, yes.A reader writes: Well, don’t think about it. Miles Kington writes: Well all right, I won’t then.CORRECTION: I referred recently to “…the great blues singing tradition as exemplified by Harland and Wolff”. This should, of course, have read, “…the great blues singing tradition as exemplified by Howling Wolf.” Sorry about that.
More from Miles Kington. British farmers were facing a fresh scare over genetically modified crops last night after the Government admitted seed imports from nine countries should be classed as “contaminated” with GM products. British farmers were facing a fresh scare over genetically modified crops last night after the Government admitted seed imports from nine countries should be classed as “contaminated” with GM products.
The Ministry of Agriculture disclosed that its research concluded oilseed rape, maize and soya seeds from the US, Argentina, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Spain, France, Portugal and Romania should be viewed as suspect.The Maff study, which was slipped out to Parliament in a written answer, comes weeks after the disclosure that 500 British farms had accidentally planted oilseed crops mixed with GM products The seeds were imported from Canada by the Advanta company.

There was an outcry from green groups, farmers and the Soil Association. Many supermarket chains had guaranteed their “100 per cent GM-free” status to shoppers and refused to take any of the crops grown on the affected farms.Yesterday Nick Brown, Minister of Agriculture, said farmers who had planted the crops would be allowed to rip them up and still claim EU subsidies.The Government is now bound to face much greater criticism after its own researchers concluded the Advanta affair was unlikely to be unique. According to the Maff study, commissioned by Mr Brown and published in the House of Commons Library, the contamination is much wider than thought.It says: “Of the agricultural crops grown in the UK, the imported seed of oilseed rape, maize and soya are most likely to be affected. Those countries where GM versions of these crops are grown commercially and from which seed is imported are identified.

In the absence of more precise data, all such imports should be regarded as potentially contaminated.”The report concludes that the chances of cereals, fodder and beet seed being affected are low, because there is at present no widespread incidence of GM varieties of those crops. But it does say “a further investigation” is required with regard to imported vegetable, fruit and salad crops.Two weeks ago Mr Brown denied reports that imported maize may be contaminated. “We have no indication any conventional maize seeds imported into the UK do contain modified varieties,” he told the Commons.. Larry Wade, one of Colin Jackson’s main potential rivals for the Olympic 110 metres hurdle title this year, is in danger of missing the United States team trials, which begin on 11 July, following an emergency operation.

Larry Wade, one of Colin Jackson’s main potential rivals for the Olympic 110 metres hurdle title this year, is in danger of missing the United States team trials, which begin on 11 July, following an emergency operation.
Wade, who was third in the world rankings last season when Jackson regained his world title in Seville, was rushed to hospital to have fluid removed from around his heart after a delayed reaction to a car accident.”It was really scary for everyone,” Emmanuel Hudson, the manager of Wade’s training group, HSI, said yesterday. “He’s only just got back on the track.”Meanwhile two of Wade’s team-mates, Maurice Greene and Inger Miller, were in London yesterday to publicise their forthcoming appearances, at the Norwich Union Challenge in Glasgow on 2 July and the Norwich Union British Grand Prix at Crystal Palace on 5 August.Greene’s early season schedule is not going to plan. He had to withdraw from Wednesday’s meeting in Milan after suffering food poisoning. And his participation in the Athens meeting on 28 June, where he set his world record last year, is now in doubt after difficulties in negotiations with the event promoter.Nevertheless, Greene is looking forward to meeting the double Olympic champion Michael Johnson over 200m this season.

“If he’s Superman, I’m kryptonite,” he said with a broad grin yesterday “He is just another athlete and I will only focus on me.”. The Derby, the premier Classic, lost its human torchbearer last week when Frankie Dettori narrowly escaped with his life from a plane crash. It now seems the equine celebrity may be missing from tomorrow’s blue riband, too. The Derby, the premier Classic, lost its human torchbearer last week when Frankie Dettori narrowly escaped with his life from a plane crash. It now seems the equine celebrity may be missing from tomorrow’s blue riband, too.
King’s Best, an awesome victor in the 2,000 Guineas, was found to be impaired after a routine piece of work on the Newmarket gallops yesterday morning.