Triesman changes status for good of bid

Football Association chairman Lord Triesman has announced he will not sit as a Labour peer in the House of Lords until England's 2018 World Cup bid campaign is over.

Triesman has advised the House of Lords of his wish to change his status to that of a non-aligned peer who will sit on the cross-benches.

It follows criticism of the bid board for being dominated by Labour - four of the six politicians involved were Labour MPs or peers.

Triesman said: "This change underlines my determination that the bid for the FIFA World Cup should be understood to be wholly outside any party politics.

"As chairman of the bid I will remain non-aligned until the decision is taken by FIFA's executive committee. It is in the best interests of a successful campaign that I should do so."

Sebastian Coe also sat as a non-aligned peer when he was the chairman of London's Olympic bid.