40 Labour MPs call for Blair to resign
By Paul Waugh Deputy Political Editor
12 March 2003
Labour Party discontent over Tony Blair's stance on Iraq burst
into the open for the first time yesterday when more than 40 MPs
called for the Prime Minister to resign.
The Campaign Group of Labour MPs issued a statement calling on
the Prime Minister to "consider his position" and fellow
left-wingers urged a party conference to discuss a leadership
challenge.
Hilton Dawson, the MP for Lancaster and Wyre, also suggested in
a Commons debate that Mr Blair should step down if he failed to
get a fresh UN mandate for war. And union leaders used a Downing
Street meeting with Mr Blair to warn of the dangers of going to
war without a second resolution.
John Reid, the party chairman, was withering about the chances
of a special party conference, pointing out that the "usual
suspects" were behind the idea and it would not get beyond
the ruling National Executive Committee.
Government sources also stressed that Gordon Brown, the most
likely successor to Mr Blair, would probably adopt a similar
policy on Iraq.
But the fact that MPs were openly prepared to contemplate Mr
Blair's dismissal underlined the extent of the schism facing the
Prime Minister in the absence of a second UN resolution. As well
as resignation by Clare Short and others, he faces a rebellion by
up to 200 MPs.
Mr Dawson, who is not known as a left-winger, said in the House
of Commons that the Prime Minister should consider quitting or
risk bringing the Labour Party "to its knees" over war
with Iraq.
John McDonnell, the MP for Hayes and Harlington, issued a
statement on behalf of the 40 MPs in the Campaign Group that read:
"It is time for the Prime Minister to consider his position.
If he is not prepared to stand up to George Bush, he must make way
for those that will," it said.
Brendan Barber, the TUC general secretary, and other union
leaders such as John Edmonds, the GMB leader, expressed their
concerns about the Iraq crisis.
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