January 9, 1999 15:05

CHUMBAS VS THE GOVERNMENT (AGAIN)

[B]Chumbawumba[/b] take on the government again, a year later...

Chumbawamba have slammed organisers of next week's Brit Awards for once again cosying up to New Labour by inviting Tony Blair's wife and children to the ceremony next week.

Bassist Boff rang NME and stormed: "It's quite ironic that the kids are going along to have a lovely time when normal kids are being thwarted at every turn by New Labour, what with student fees, welfare to work, curfews and so on.

"It's such a stark contrast that these children were opted out of the state system to be educated when their father's taking away grants and maintenance fees for people who can't afford to go to university. "Labour are trying to appear cool via the kids, and the kids are just being used. It's all very cynical."

Boff said it was a disgrace that an event supposedly celebrating the music industry, which is traditionally the domain of the young, should allow Labour to be in a position to feed off the carcass of Cool Britannia on one hand, while holding down the youth of the nation with the other.

The premier's wife Cherie and their children Euan, 15, Nicholas<, 13 and Kathryn, 10, all went to the Brit Awards, last year, when deputy Prime Minister was soaked by a bucket of water thrown by the Chumba's Danbert Nobacon. At the time, Danbert said it had been a protest about "what New Labour are doing in Britain", not just regarding students, but regarding single mums, school leavers of pensioners.

But a spokesman for the event denied that the Blairs were there for any other reason but that the offspring of Britain's Prime Minister were huge Manic Street Preachers fans - and that anyone could go to the awards, which are being held on February 16 at the London Docklands Arena, if they paid for a table.

Acts performing include the Manics, plus Placebo with David Bowie, Whitney Houston, The Corrs, Eurythmics, Robbie Williams and an Abba-tribute supergroup of B*Witched, Steps, Billie and Cleopatra.

He explained: "The only people who don't pay to go are the press. If Cherie Blair wants to come and bring her kids, we can accommodate her. She's got three kids who quite like the Manics and she's paying." He added that other politicians from all political parties would also be there, although he could not say who for security reasons.