May 12, 2005
THE LADDIE'S NOT FOR TURNING:
Blair asks MPs for time to ensure an easy succession (JAMES KIRKUP, 5/12/05, The Scotsman)
TONY Blair yesterday appealed to Labour MPs for loyalty, asking them to let him stay in office long enough to ensure a "smooth and orderly" transfer of power to Gordon Brown.In what had been billed as a Westminster showdown with his party after last week’s election, the Prime Minister effectively faced down his critics. But, as during the campaign, his survival was, in part, due to the Chancellor’s implicit support. [...]
Sitting alongside Mr Brown, Mr Blair told MPs that, if they remained united behind his agenda for modernising public services, "a fourth term is there for us". But, if Labour moved to the left, it would "cede the centre ground to the Tories, and that’s where elections are won in this country".
He overestimates the Tories. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 12, 2005 12:00 AM
But he understands the self-distructive nature of the left of his own party very well.
Posted by: John at May 12, 2005 10:12 AMMany of Blair's more irritating intra-party opponents have quit like Dalyell or Llew Smith. There are about 30-40 who will still give him problems but he can slap most of them down pretty quickly. When the lead spokesperson for attribution against him is the addle-pated third-rate, butt-ugly former actress, Glenda Jackson, he's in pretty good shape.
Posted by: bart at May 12, 2005 10:51 AM