1993 BBC Sports Personality Of The Year Awards

EDM number 288 in 1993-94, proposed by David Hinchliffe on 15/12/1993.

That this House notes the growing public concern over the BBC's decision to give their Team of the Year Award to the England Rugby Union team; notes that the award related to sporting excellence over the previous 12 months and finds it strange that a team which failed to win the Five Nations Championship or the Grand Slam should be given the award; further notes that, if the BBC had been consistent in applying its criteria of excellence, there would have been far more appropriate contenders, including the England Women's Cricket Team, who won the world championship, Wigan Rugby League Club who won 4 out of 5 domestic trophies, including a fifth successive double of Chamionship and Challenge Cup, the Great Britain Rugby League team, which achieved the first home series whitewash over New Zealand in 20 years, Manchester United, the first winners of the FA Premier League and the British Athletics Team, for its brilliant performances in difficult circumstances in the World Championships in Stuttgart; believes that the BBC should respond to serious allegations that their choice for the award was directly influencd by negotiations for television coverage of the Five Nations RU Championship; notes that the circumstances surrounding the choice of the England RU team have seriously devalued both the BBC and its previously prestigious award; and calls upon the Corporation to explain its departure from its declared criteria.

This motion has been signed by a total of 32 MPs.