Labour MPs tell Blair to quit Downing Street

PRESSURE on Tony Blair to quit as prime minister intensified this weekend with a growing number of Labour MPs calling for him to leave Downing Street within a year.
The backbenchers, many speaking publicly for the first time, have been moved to hasten Blair’s departure after his majority was slashed by 94 in Thursday’s general election.



Many of them say they were shocked by the hostility shown towards them and the prime minister on the doorstep during the election campaign. With a smaller majority, backbenchers will wield far more power and have the potential to help vote down key government bills in the forthcoming Queen’s speech, including soon-to-be-published legislation on ID cards.

Further pressure has been put on Blair to go early, despite his stated intention to serve a full third term, by Michael Howard’s announcement that he is quitting as leader of the Conservatives. Howard told friends that one of the reasons for his statement on Friday was to raise the pressure on Blair to make an early exit himself.

Some MPs close to Gordon Brown believe Blair may decide to quit this year, using the G8 summit in Gleneagles in July or the party conference in autumn to stage an early exit.