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Looks like New Labour are headed for opposition
Seven MPs Quit Over Blair
Updated: 16:53, Wednesday September 06, 2006
SKY NEWS
Seven Labour MPs have quit Government posts in protest at Tony Blair's refusal to say when he will stand down as PM. Mr Blair hit back with accusations of disloyalty.
Earlier, The Sun reported he will step down as Labour leader on May 31 and resign as PM on July 26.
Tom Watson quit as a junior defence minister and was followed by six Parliamentary Private Secretaries Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole and David Wright.
They argued it was not "in the interest of either the party or the country" for Mr Blair to remain in office.
Tom Watson Mr Watson's resignation letter said: "I share the view of the overwhelming majority of the party and the country that the only way the party and the Government can renew itself in office is urgently to renew its leadership."
He was in a group of MPs who had earlier signed a confidential letter to Mr Blair urging him to name a date for his departure.
The PM retorted: "I had been intending to dismiss him but wanted to extend to him the courtesy of speaking to him first.
"To sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong."
No denials over quit timetable Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt warned Labour MPs it was "madness" to demand conditions from the Prime Minister and said the party was in "real danger" of forgetting the lessons it learned during the 1980s.
The Sun's claim that Mr Blair will go next summer has not been denied in Downing Street and Sky News' Political Editor Adam Boulton says it is being assumed in Westminster that the news is correct.
"This is now fantastically messy for the Prime Minister," said Boulton.
"Senior MPs and many commentators are saying the party may not stand for this (timetable) and will expect Mr Blair to be out by Christmas.
"He is clearly on the defensive. He is clearly on the run."
John McDonnell, chair of the socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs, has confirmed he will launch his own campaign to succeed Mr Blair.
Seven MPs Quit Over Blair
Updated: 16:53, Wednesday September 06, 2006
SKY NEWS
Seven Labour MPs have quit Government posts in protest at Tony Blair's refusal to say when he will stand down as PM. Mr Blair hit back with accusations of disloyalty.
Earlier, The Sun reported he will step down as Labour leader on May 31 and resign as PM on July 26.
Tom Watson quit as a junior defence minister and was followed by six Parliamentary Private Secretaries Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami, Chris Mole and David Wright.
They argued it was not "in the interest of either the party or the country" for Mr Blair to remain in office.
Tom Watson Mr Watson's resignation letter said: "I share the view of the overwhelming majority of the party and the country that the only way the party and the Government can renew itself in office is urgently to renew its leadership."
He was in a group of MPs who had earlier signed a confidential letter to Mr Blair urging him to name a date for his departure.
The PM retorted: "I had been intending to dismiss him but wanted to extend to him the courtesy of speaking to him first.
"To sign a round robin letter which was then leaked to the press was disloyal, discourteous and wrong."
No denials over quit timetable Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt warned Labour MPs it was "madness" to demand conditions from the Prime Minister and said the party was in "real danger" of forgetting the lessons it learned during the 1980s.
The Sun's claim that Mr Blair will go next summer has not been denied in Downing Street and Sky News' Political Editor Adam Boulton says it is being assumed in Westminster that the news is correct.
"This is now fantastically messy for the Prime Minister," said Boulton.
"Senior MPs and many commentators are saying the party may not stand for this (timetable) and will expect Mr Blair to be out by Christmas.
"He is clearly on the defensive. He is clearly on the run."
John McDonnell, chair of the socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs, has confirmed he will launch his own campaign to succeed Mr Blair.
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