▁of ▁the ▁highest ▁fe es ▁paid ▁by ▁any ▁English ▁club ) ▁for ▁the ▁Black burn ▁Ro vers ▁stri ker ▁Chris ▁S utton . ▁▁ 9 ▁July ▁– ▁Neil ▁Kin no ck , ▁who ▁was ▁Labour ▁Party ▁leader ▁from ▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁while ▁they ▁were ▁in ▁opposition , ▁is ▁appointed ▁vice - pres ident ▁of ▁the ▁European ▁Commission . ▁▁ 2 2 ▁July ▁– ▁At ▁the ▁Edd is bury ▁by - e lection , ▁Stephen ▁O ' B rien ▁holds ▁the ▁seat ▁for ▁the ▁Conserv ative ▁Party . ▁ ▁August ▁▁ 4 ▁August ▁– ▁▁ ▁George ▁Robert son ▁appointed ▁as ▁Secretary ▁General ▁of ▁NAT O . ▁ ▁The ▁J JB ▁Stadium ▁opens ▁in ▁W igan , ▁to ▁serve ▁the ▁town ' s ▁football ▁and ▁rugby ▁teams . ▁▁ 9 ▁August ▁– ▁Charles ▁Kennedy ▁elected ▁as ▁Le ader ▁of ▁the ▁Liberal ▁Democr ats . ▁▁ 1 1 ▁August ▁– ▁The ▁solar ▁eclipse ▁attract s ▁the ▁attention ▁of ▁ 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁people ▁across ▁Europe , ▁with ▁Corn wall ▁being ▁the ▁only ▁region ▁of ▁Britain ▁to ▁experience ▁tot ality . ▁▁ 2 0 ▁August ▁– ▁A ▁M OR I ▁poll ▁shows ▁Labour ▁support ▁at ▁ 4 9 %, ▁giving ▁them ▁a ▁ 2 2 - point ▁lead ▁over ▁the ▁Conserv atives . ▁However , ▁it ▁is ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁since ▁their ▁election ▁win ▁over ▁two ▁years ▁ago ▁that ▁they ▁have ▁pol led ▁at ▁less ▁than ▁ 5 0 % ▁in