UK: Pro-Saddam MPs plot to oust Blair

icNewcastle ^ | March 09 2003 | Sunday Sun

[knighthawk]

Labour MPs opposed to war on Iraq are believed to be planning a bid to topple Tony Blair because of his support for the looming conflict.

The Prime Minister, still reeling from a recent backbench revolt on Iraq in the Commons by 121 of his colleagues, could face a leadership challenge at the next party conference in October.

Veteran MP and anti-war campaigner Tam Dalyell told the Sunday Sun that backbench MPs are already talking about having Mr Blair replaced.

Mr Dalyell, MP for Linlithgow in Scotland, revealed the plot to oust Mr Blair during a visit to Sunderland to speak at an anti-war protest yesterday.

He said: "In my opinion, if Tony Blair goes to war without a second UN resolution his future as Prime Minister is in serious doubt. The due process of the Labour Party might well be put into operation if Tony Blair goes to war without a clear mandate from the UN and an unambiguous vote from Parliament on whether they can go to war or not.

"For there to be a challenge to the Prime Minister there needs a trigger at the party conference.

"I would be less than candid if I said that there has not been talk about replacing Tony Blair."

There have been rumours some MPs are preparing to table a motion of no confidence against the Prime Minister at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party. Such a move would have no constitutional authority, however.

According to Labour's rulebook, when the party is in Government a leadership election "shall proceed only if requested by a majority of the party conference on a card vote".

Although Mr Blair could not be forced out before the party conference, should the potential war go disastrously wrong his position might become untenable, forcing him to resign.

At the Sunderland peace rally Mr Dalyell received a rapturous reception from 250-plus protesters gathered near the Bob Murray Library at the city's university.

He told them that Tony Blair should be listening to the people of the North and not to advisers to US president George Bush.

"The impact of these demonstrations is that it has made it clear to the American public that Tony Blair does not speak for Britain on this matter," said Mr Dalyell, known as the father of the House of Commons because he is its longest-serving MP. "Yes, Saddam has done terrible things, but things are relative.

"It wasn't Iraq that dragged a young princess through the streets to a scaffold to be executed.

"That was Saudi Arabia. Are we going to bomb Saudi Arabia? Of course not."

[knighthawk]

Yes, Saddam has done terrible things, but things are relative

How 'relative' is gassing off thousands of civilians? How 'relative' is torturing thousands of others?

[ppaul]

Pro-Saddam MPs MFs plot to oust Blair

[MadIvan]

Blair has the backing of 160 Tory MPs - plus the Labour MPs can't dislodge him, it has to be a general vote of the Labour Party. The MPs who plot otherwise are living in a fantasy world.

Regards, Ivan

[The Wizard]

by October Blair will have a medal and be undefeatable

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[marvlus]

By the time October rolls around, Blair, along with Bush, will be hailed as heroes. I predict that the exposed horrors of Saddam Hussein will be far more than what the peaceniks could have envisioned.

[UncleSamUSA]

Ivan: I guess the left-wing Labourite loonies want to replace Blair with a pro-Saddam, anti-US stooge.

Maybe Jacques Chirac can nominate someone for the Brits to elect that will be totally in synch with the Franco-German Alliance of Appeasement.

I guess some of those fools think that is Britain's ultimate destiny. Scary, huh?

[anniegetyourgun]

Besides, he'd just as soon kill their relatives as his own.....

[laz17]

Did any of these MPs say a single word when Blair followed Klintoon into Kosovo without consulting the UN? I'm sorry, but the level of rank hypocrisy that is emanating from the Left all across the globe has reached epic proportions. Every single reason they give for their opposition to this war, every single one, is an outright lie that can't survive the barest of scrutiny or analysis. And yet they continue, utterly mindlessly. How can so many people saying so many things that amount to absolutely zero be causing so much trouble?

[MEG33]

I shudder when I hear the reasoning . Do we have reason to be very upset with the Saudi's,of course.Different pro blems and all in good time. I nominate Blair for the Courage award and Jack Straw for the best put down of a weasle.

[section9]

I think they know this, Ivan. But they are trying to scare Blair into becoming another Harold Wilson, scared to make a move without a metaphorical Roy Jenkins pulling the strings.

What they fail to realize is that New Labour has found its Margaret Thatcher. This is the strangest thing of all. Blair has taken refuge in the convictions of his nascent Catholocism, and recognizes that time and the liberation of an oppressed people will undo the entire argument of the Left. He is willing to see this through to the end. That is something the Left did not foresee.

There's a lot of Maggie in this guy after all, which in the long run is bad news for the Tory Party.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[MadIvan]

I guess some of those fools think that is Britain's ultimate destiny. Scary, huh?

Well now you know why I'll never vote anything but Tory. I can't stand the Labour Party; as much as I respect Blair, his party is full of the worst scum in British politics.

Regards, Ivan

[knighthawk]

Yes, it's incredible these people can come up with such remarks. Do they compete on who can make the most stupid one?

[Howlin]

This is fast becoming like a Whack-A-Mole game, isn't it?

[CathyRyan]

Maybe if the the left-wing Labourite loonies ask real nice maybe Jack "Iraq" Chirac will agree to rule both France and England.

[prairiebreeze]

**I nominate Blair for the Courage award and Jack Straw for the best put down of a weasle.**

Agreed! I happened to run across part of Blair's MTV interview this morning. As he deftly fielded questions from the adolescents, it was apparent that he sees the issues and situations so very clearly---like GWB does.

I thought the most compelling kid to speak was the young Iraqi man. He basically threw full support to any effort to oust Saddam. Made me think the kid knew of what he spoke.

Prairie

[DB]

Sounds like he has to October. That's a very long time in the current scheme of things.

[Capt. Tom]

It won't be the same world in October as we have now.

No one can predict even the near future now, when war with Iraq is immenent; and No. Korea can change the world by going nuclear.

The UN vote next week can change long held national political alliances in less than an hour.

We were late getting to WW1 and WW2 but are outfront in WW3. A new role for us. But with the distinct possibility of nuclear weapons and other weapons of Mass Destruction aimed at us we cannot stay on the defensive. - Tom

[Happygal]

The Tories should pray that Labour ousts Blair and replaces them with someone hideous like Clare Short or Glenda Jackson. THAT would ensure Tory victory at the polls next time out!

[MadIvan]

The Tories should pray that Labour ousts Blair and replaces them with someone hideous like Clare Short or Glenda Jackson. THAT would ensure Tory victory at the polls next time out!

Not until the war is over, darling. We don't need it before then. Once the war is over, then IDS can look statesmanlike as compared to any of the far left loonies that they have in mind.

Love, Ivan