A WORCESTERSHIRE MP told the House of Commons yesterday that former Prime Minister Tony Blair lied to Parliament over the so-called Ecclestone Affair.

Commons speaker Michael Martin said he was “deeply concerned” following the accusation by Mid-Worcestershire Conservative MP Peter Luff and a fellow Tory, John Maples, and pledged to investigate the matter.

Mr Luff and Mr Maples – who represents Stratford-upon-Avon – told the House that documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act revealed Mr Blair had personally intervened to secure Formula One’s exemption from a tobacco advertising ban just hours after meeting the sport’s boss, Bernie Ecclestone.

The Government has always maintained the meeting did not influence the final decision over the exemption – even though Mr Ecclestone was a major party donor at the time.

Mr Maples told the Speaker: “Documents published this weekend under the Freedom of Information Act show we were deliberately misled in this House by the then-Prime Minister about the Ecclestone affair in November 1997.

“The documents show the Prime Minister had decided on October 16 of that year to seek a derogation from Formula One on the tobacco advertising ban – and that was immediately after he met Mr Ecclestone.

“In his answer to the House, he stated that no decision had been made on October 16.”

Mr Luff added: "I understand we would know what to do were (Mr Blair) still a member of this House.

“That is not the case – but it’s all the more important that the record is corrected.”