Eric Cantona

EDM number 278 in 1996-97, proposed by Tony Banks on 02/12/1996.

That this House expresses its displeasure at the rejection by the trustees of the National Portrait Gallery of the choice of Eric Cantona by the Winner of the BP Portrait Award; points out to those elitist trustees who vetoed the proposal that Eric Cantona is a player much admired around the world by large numbers of football supporters and believes his claim to a place in the National Portrait Gallery to be far stronger than many of the obscure nonentities currently on display; and calls upon the trustees to reverse their decision, apologise to the winner of the BP Award, James Hague, and recognise that portraits of eminent footballers rather than dead royalty would do wonders for visitor attendance at the Gallery.

This motion has been signed by a total of 21 MPs.