World News
Gordon Brown not attending Olympics opening
Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister Gordon Brown will not be attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.
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.
Under pressure
Mr Brown - who has been under pressure to boycott the Olympics over China's human rights record - has never specifically said he will attend the opening ceremony.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
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Comments (2)
Gordon Brown is just leftovers from the real meal, and the Brits are still smarting because they finally had to get out of one of their Tibets, Hong Kong.
Oh boo hoo Britain isn't a global power anymore, it's just a wanna be.
But hey, Brown can hold the door open for Bush as he goes into the opening ceremonies. Maybe he can polish George's boots while he's at it.
Sounds like a full-blown UK Olympic boycott is unlikely at this point, but Brown's decision might help tip the scales in that direction.