BLAIR DEFIANT AFTER REVOLT

Sky News ^ | February 27, 2003 | Sky News

[MadIvan]

Tony Blair is meeting with his close ally, the Prime Minister of Spain, after suffering the biggest revolt against his leadership after 122 Labour MPs voted against his policy on Iraq.

Blair defiant

The Government insisted it would not be deflected from taking military action to disarm Saddam Hussein despite suffering what is thought to be the biggest Commons backbench revolt in modern times.

The rebel MPs were among 199 from all parties who voted to say the case for war against Iraq has not yet been proved.

They expressed their opposition to Mr Blair's stance during a Commons debate - backing an an amendment that the case for war was "as yet unproven".

Out of 410 Labour MPs, 122 voted for the amendment.

Thanks to the support of most Tories and the size of its Commons majority, the Government was able to see off the amendment. It was defeated by 393 to 199 votes, a majority of 194.

The rebels included Father of the House Tam Dalyell and former Labour ministers Chris Smith and Glenda Jackson.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy said: "This is a very significant parliamentary occasion.

"Despite investing masses of political and parliamentary capital, the Government has still failed to persuade a third of the House of Commons.

Which means Blair has persuaded 2/3rds of the House of Commons. Go away, Charlie - Ivan

"At this crucial stage that sends a potent signal to the Government of both Britain and the United States."

[MadIvan]

The media spin is in full force, too bad Sky is not immune. Really, the fact that Blair has 2/3rds of the House of Commons behind him is the real story here.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Travis McGee]

How soon? There is almost no moon for at least the next week.

[Cinnamon Girl]

I am so impressed with Tony Blair for standing with President Bush. He's got it going on.

Am I the only one who thinks he sounds like C-3-P-O?

[Mr. Mojo]

"At this crucial stage that sends a potent signal to the Government of both Britain and the United States." - Ch. Kennedy

Indeed it does, Chuck. And the message is that the vast majority of Parliament sides with Blair and Bush.

What is it with people named Kennedy?

[Mr. Mojo]

Our window closes around March 6 or 7, if we insist on starting this thing during the dark nights.

[Mr. Mojo]

Am I the only one who thinks he sounds like C-3-P-O?

LOL....Now that you mention it, Blair sounds exactly like C3PO. ....Very funny.

[Centurion2000]

He may be a socialist flake on domestic policy but Blair has earned my respect in the last year.

[New Horizon]

Unlike C3PO, Blair is not a blathering chicken-shit. I like him.

[New Horizon]

Unlike C3PO, Blair is not a blathering chicken-shit. I like him.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

for later reading

[lainde]

love that pix...BTTT!

[ppaul]

The rebels included Father of the House Tam Dalyell and former Labour ministers Chris Smith and Glenda Jackson.

Glenda Jackson

[vbmoneyspender]

Make it a trifecta. Award Blair and Thatcher honorary U.S. citizenship so that they get to join Churchill.

[Jeff Chandler]

Blair looks and sounds like a sissy boy, but he acts like a real man.

[Mo1]

Hey Ivan .. I heard on the news that Blair was taking a lot of heat lately

I heard part of a speech he gave the other day and I must say I was even more impressed with him

Are things as bad as our media is claiming?

[MadIvan]

Not as bad as your media is claiming; but really what Blair needs is a quick war. Once that is done, and the torture cells are opened up, it is his opponents who will be shown to be morally bankrupt.

Regards, Ivan

[this_ol_patriot]

Unless I have no understanding of how things work over there or you guys use an obscure numbering system this looks like a massive victory for Blair. Heh, maybe they couldn't hear the results over all the shouting.

[MEG33]

I am so grateful for the support of Tony Blair.

[nunoste]

Well, even though he did garner 2/3s of the vote, you have to admit that its kind of a big deal for Blair to lose so many in his own party. In the United States, it wouldn't be a big deal to have so many in your own party defect, but the British system is structured around the confidence of one's own party. Strict party cohesion is demanded in the British system and its very rare for a party to have so many defect against its own leader, especially when their leader is the PM. The nature of the issue and the tradition of dissent in England, however, left a lot of room for party members to defect in this one instance.
Either way, I think the way Tony Blair has performed the last two years is about the most remarkable human performance I have witnessed in my lifetime, with very few exceptions.
Now if only he would jettison his desire to convert the Pound to the Euro. This of course, is on permanent hold, and I am sure he is having second thoughts about this, as well as Americans who once saw British participation in the Euro as a means of tempering the strong arming of the Germans and French.