Olympic cover-up scandal

The Government misled a Commons committee by hiding huge public support for a London Olympics bid.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell was accused of a "fiddle" after holding back key findings from opinion poll research for the Government which showed overwhelming backing for staging the 2012 games in the capital.

The Evening Standard can reveal that a memo on the findings from Ms Jowell to the Commons Culture Committee failed to mention that:

* More than a quarter of the public would volunteer to help stage the games.

* A massive 70 per cent said bidding was worthwhile even if London stood no chance of winning.

* More than half said the games were so prestigious it did not matter if they made a loss.

* Two thirds disagreed when asked if the money would be better spent elsewhere.

* And 90 per cent said Britain should apply to hold major sporting events such as the Olympics and the World Cup.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Tom Brake said: "They have clearly fiddled the figures and misled the public."

A spokesman for the Culture Department denied any wrongdoing.