Paris gives London a boost

London's hopes of hosting the Olympic Games were boosted today after a bizarre attack from its rival Paris.

The mayor of the French capital criticised the campaign to bring the 2012 Games to Britain - in direct contravention of strict Olympic rules.

Bertrand Delanoe, who is leading the Paris bid, questioned the solidarity between Tony Blair and Ken Livingstone only a day after the London Mayor was readmitted to Labour. M Delanoe said their relationship was not as good as that shared by himself and president Jacques Chirac.

He said: "I cannot help but notice that the French consensus, especially between Paris city authorities and the state, represented by the President of the Republic, is stronger than that between the Mayor of London and the British Prime Minister."

His words come only a week before the 2012 race begins in earnest and could lead to a warning from the International Olympic Committee, which will choose the host city next year. Last month the IOC warned Mr Blair after he merely mentioned London's bid at a summit in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, defending Mr Livingstone's return to Labour, Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said he had a "good constructive working relationship" with the Government.