Jowell accused of 'fiddling' survey showing public backs Olympic bid

Tessa Jowell was accused last night of covering up evidence of overwhelming public support for a bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Opposition MPs claimed the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport had released a partial version of the findings of an opinion poll as a precursor to vetoing the bid.

Last week Ms Jowell released a summary of an ICM survey to MPs showing a broad level of public backing for bringing the Games to Britain. It said that four in five voters believed a bid should be made, although, paradoxically, 56 per cent said the money would be better spent on grassroots sport.

But her summary omitted other positive responses. Some 27 per cent of people said they would be prepared to volunteer to help in the Games, cutting the running costs. Nearly three in four disagreed that bidding for the Games would be a waste of money even if London could not win, and 55 per cent thought the prestige of hosting the Games was more important than any financial loss.

The omissions fuelled speculation Ms Jowell was preparing the ground for a cabinet decision on 30 January against a bid. But Whitehall sources denied a final decision had been taken. One said: "I genuinely still think it is 50-50."

Gerald Kaufman, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, which was given the summary, said he would ask for an unedited copy of the findings.

John Whittingdale, the shadow Culture Secretary, said the poll showed there was "fantastic support for a bid", adding: "The Government is doing everything it can to pour cold water on an Olympics bid."

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, said: "They have clearly fiddled the figures ... they have misled the public and a Commons committee."

But a spokesman for the Culture Department dismissed the claims as nonsense. He said the summary included the address of the ICM website, which had the full findings.