PM ‘should jump queue to join MCC’
Blofeld joins former Test captains in call for May to be allowed to skip 27-year wait for club membership
THERESA MAY should be allowed to bypass a lengthy waiting list and join the Marylebone Cricket Club, which owns Lord’s Cricket Ground, Henry Blofeld has said.
Mr Blofeld, who quit as a BBC Test Match Special broadcaster last summer after 45 years behind the microphone, said: “If anyone can jump the queue, it is surely the Prime Minister.”
Mrs May recently put in her application to join the MCC, supported by two predecessors, David Cameron and Sir John Major.
There were fears that she would have a long wait to join as cricket enthusiasts who put their names down for Lord’s today will have to bide their time for another 27 years before they can become full members.
The MCC confirmed on Friday that the club’s main committee – which meets every two months – can consider the prime minister’s application “out of turn”, rather than make her wait the a quarter-century for full membership.
This could allow Mrs May’s application to be approved in time for the Cricket World Cup final, which will be played at Lord’s next year.
Mr Blofeld, an MCC member for the past 60 years, said: “I am delighted that anyone should join the MCC – I think it is a tremendous advert for the MCC, for cricket, which is suffering at the moment thanks to the Australian cricket captain and vice-captain ball tampering. I am all for it. She enjoys cricket. She came to our commentary box last year when I was working for Test Match Special. I am delighted, really delighted to hear it.”
Stars of the game also added their support of Mrs May becoming a member, including Geoffrey Boycott, the former England opening batsman and television commentator.
He said Mrs May’s application should “definitely be fast-tracked”, adding: “Any Prime Minister who wishes to be a member of MCC is an honour for the club.”
Alec Stewart, the former England cricket captain and an honorary life member of the MCC, also said: “I met her last year at Lord’s and she is obviously a cricket enthusiast.
“That is great – whether it helps in any shape or form, it is certainly not going to hinder. She seemed in my twominute conversation with her to be knowledgeable about the game. If she’s another powerful voice to support the game, then great. I am all for many people being part of the game, supporting the game, following the game.
“When you have somebody like the Prime Minister becoming a member of a very good club, then that can only be good.”
Mike Gatting, another former England captain, who became an honorary MCC member in 1998, said that her application should be approved in time for the World Cup final.
He said: “[I think] it should be done as soon as possible personally.”
The MCC was looking at ways to bring down the “stupid” 27-year waiting period, he added.
A spokesman for the MCC confirmed that Mrs May had “recently” put in an application to join the club.