Arts correspondent Rosie Millard reports

Oasis and the Spice Girls have been given food for thought by The Verve and All Saints, who dominated The Brits.

Urban Hymns by The Verve has made a huge impact

The Wigan band were voted best British group and also carried off trophies for best British album and best producer.

As for All Saints, their hit Never Ever won the best single and best video categories -- echoing the Spice Girls' success a year ago.

No feud

Victoria Adams, aka Posh Spice, denied tabloid newspaper allegations of a feud with All Saints.

She praised the London foursome and said she was delighted there were so many good British girl groups around.

Elton John rewrote Candle In The Wind, which became an anthem for Princess Diana

Natalie Appleton, of All Saints, said: "I'm in shock. I still can't believe we won best video and best single. Unbelievable."

Loyal following

All Saints missed out in the best British newcomer category to Stereophonics, a little known Welsh band who have achieved little in the charts but have built up a loyal following, especially among students.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and fellow VIP guest Cherie Blair had an embarrassing time when they came under attack from anarchist pop stars Chumbawumba.

Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac, who won an award for their outstanding contribution to music

The band -- whose single Tubthumping was a big chart hit last summer -- wore shirts proclaiming "Sold out" and "Labour whore".

They performed live on stage and changed the words of their hit song to: "New Labour sold out the dockers, just like they sold out the rest of us."

Tatty old troublemakers

Ben Elton, himself a millionaire Labour supporter, described them as "a bunch of tatty old troublemakers."

Later Chumbawumba guitarist Danbert Nobacon, jumped onto a table at which Mr Prescott and his wife were sitting and threw a bucket of iced water over him.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said a 35-year-old man was arrested after the incident and later released without charge.

Like Trainspotting a year ago The Full Monty carried all before it

He said Mr Prescott refused to press charges but added: "We reserve the right to rearrest the man."

Stars heckled and jostled

Earlier stars had been heckled and jostled as they arrived at the ceremony.

About 200 left-wing demonstrators waved banners against record company PolyGram, claiming it was paying CD packers as little as £3 an hour.

Television presenter Denise van Outen and American rock singer Jon Bon Jovi were among those jostled.

Other winners were:

Freddie Mercury Award for extraordinary charity work: Sir Elton John.

 

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