Blair faces vote of no-confidence over war

[Supormom]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=549868

By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor
10 August 2004


Labour activists are circulating a resolution of no confidence in Tony Blair for next month's annual party conference because of a loss of trust in him over the war over Iraq.

The renewed calls for Mr Blair to be replaced threatens to revive the doubts about his leadership and underlines growing dissatisfaction among grass-roots party workers.

Yesterday, Lord Hattersley, the former Labour deputy leader, raised the stakes by calling on John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister to persuade Tony Blair - whom he described as a "cuckoo in the nest" - to leave. "Threats may have to take the place of persuasion. But saving the party is John Prescott's obligation,'' said Lord Hattersley in The Guardian.

Two supporters of Labour's modernisation also called for Mr Blair to be replaced and for the party to shift to the left. "We were never uncritical Blairites but we did think that Blair would open up spaces to renew social democracy. We were wrong," said Neal Lawson and Paul Thompson, editors of the centre-left journal, Renewal. "That promise of a new politics has receded and it is obvious there is no point waiting for a better Blair. The stakes are simply too high to accept that there is no alternative .... What is at stake is ... the viability of the party."

[bluestateguy]

1. Oh how times change

Usually the collapse of a Labour Government is thought of as being bad for the Democratic Party.

I don't know about you, but I don't think its a coincidence that the Whigs are trying to force Blair out 2 months before our election.

[autorank]

2. Blair needs to go

regardless of party affiliation. He is a war criminal! and a bush-kisser.

[AndyTiedye]

3. Can They Get Rid of Him W/O Ushering in Another Generation of Tory Rule?

Of course, another generation (or more) of Tory rule is guaranteed
if Labor does NOT get rid of Blair.

[amber dog democrat]

4. Is seems wrong to weigh into their politics

I so despise Blair that i would feel alright if another Tory stepped in, but it really is a great tradgedy all around. Blair has come to represent a failure of leadership that undermines any progress the Labor Party may have gained when he was the PM.

Still I feel he needs to go. What a mess.

[fedsron2us]

5. Cuckoo in the nest

just about sums it up. Blair does not even pretend to be Tory-lite now days. His agenda is nakedly conservative. He is the true heir to the Thatcher legacy.

It is ironic that back in the 1980's Hattersley was pilloried by some in the Labour Party for being too right wing. Twenty years later he is accused of being left wing. I do not think his political views have changed. It is just that under Blair New Labour has become virtually indistinguishable from the Tories.

[OK_DemX2]

6. Gee, it just doesn't pay to be Bush's friend or in the

coalition of the bribed, I mean willing.....

[goforit]

8. All who befriend Bush........FALL HARD!!!!!

A lesson to be learned with bad karma engulfing them.

[merh]

7. He's got my vote!

I have no confidence in the poddle! :mad: