britain's governing Labour party's abrupt volte-face on November 5 on the plan to ban Formula One racing sponsorship by tobacco companies has become as a major embarrassment. This was one of the electoral promises of the party before the general elections in May, which it won by a landslide. Recently, the finance minister was asked during an interview on bbc radio about the party receiving donations from Bernie Ecclestone, president of the Formula One Constructors' Association. He had no answer. The party later admitted that it had received a donation of more than