 On 4 November the " fiercely anti @-@ tobacco Jowell " argued in Brussels for an exemption for Formula One . Media attention initially focused on Labour bending its principles for a " glamour sport " and on the " false trail " of Jowell 's husband 's links to the Benetton Formula One team . On 6 November correspondents from three newspapers enquired whether Labour had received any donations from Ecclestone ; he had donated £ 1 million in January 1997 . On 11 November Labour promised to return the money on the advice of Sir Patrick Neill . On 17 November Blair apologised for his government 's mishandling of the affair and stated " the decision to exempt Formula One from tobacco sponsorship was taken two weeks later . It was in response to fears that Britain might lose the industry overseas to Asian countries who were bidding for it . " 
 On 4 November the " fiercely anti @-@ tobacco Jowell " argued in Brussels for an exemption for Formula One . Media attention initially focused on Labour bending its principles for a " glamour sport " and on the " false trail " of Jowell <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>husband <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>links to the Benetton Formula One team . On 6 November correspondents from three newspapers enquired whether Labour <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> received any donations from Ecclestone ; he <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> donated £ 1 million in January 1997 . On 11 November Labour promised to return the money on the advice of Sir Patrick Neill . On 17 November Blair apologised for his government <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>mishandling of the affair and stated " the decision to exempt Formula One from tobacco sponsorship was taken two weeks later . It was in response to fears that Britain might lose the industry overseas to Asian countries <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> bidding for it . " 
On 4 November the " fiercely anti @-@ tobacco Jowell " argued in Brussels fir an exemption for Formula One . Media attention initially focused on Labour bending its principles fir a " glamour sport " and on the " false trail " of Jowell  husband  links to da Benetton Formula One team . On 6 November correspondents from three newspapers enquired whether Labour done received any donations from Ecclestone ; he done donated £ 1 million in January 1997 . On 11 November Labour promised to return tdamoney on thdadvice of Sir Patrick Neill . On 17 November Blair apologised for his government  mishandling of thedafair and stated " the decision to exempt Formula One from tobacco sponsorship was taken two weeks later . It was in response to fears that Britain might lose the industry overseas to Asian countries was bidding fa it . "