Premier supports Gospels campaign

Feb 22 2007 By William Green, The Journal

Tony Blair has pledged to give "any support" he can over efforts to return the Lindisfarne Gospels to the North-East.

The Prime Minister also said he wanted the 7th century manuscripts, taken from Durham Cathedral in 1537 by Henry VIII, to be widely available in the region - although the ultimate decision over their location was up to the British Library in London.

Mr Blair made the pledge at Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons yesterday after Tyneside MP Sharon Hodgson called for his support over the campaign to bring the Gospels back to the North-East.

The Prime Minister said: "Well, as I am sure my Honourable friend is aware, it is obviously a matter for the British Library Board to decide where the Gospels are located.

"But I certainly share my Honourable friend's desire to see them widely available in the North-East.

"I know she has met recently the minister concerned in order to discuss it and I am perfectly happy to give her any support I can in making sure that as many people in the North-East get access to what is obviously a huge cultural icon for people there."

Mrs Hodgson, MP for Gateshead East and Washington West, later said she was delighted by Mr Blair's comments.

"The Prime Minister cannot, I know, just instruct the British Library but I am sure that they will have heard his strong words of support for the campaign and I ask them to listen to public opinion in the North-East and do the right thing by us," she said.

The Labour MP is also part of a delegation going to the British Library within weeks to press the case. She said: "The ball is firmly in the British Library's court."