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March 30, 2005

The careful application of pressure stems bleeding

A heads-up via Perfect.co.uk...

Independent - Labour MPs to fight on anti-war ticket: Labour MPs who opposed the Iraq war are to defy Tony Blair by making it a key "issue of trust" at the general election expected on 5 May. In a setback for the Prime Minister's attempt to "move on" from Iraq two years after the military action, 17 rebel MPs have signed a declaration saying: "I was and remain totally opposed to the war on Iraq. If elected as your parliamentary representative in the forthcoming general election, I will do everything in my power to bring the occupation of Iraq to an end." The MPs fear a backlash from voters over the war and will try to insulate themselves against one by including the statement in their election leaflets. The rebels' decision to make Iraq "an issue of trust" is a coded attack on Mr Blair.

The following is anecdotal evidence only, but I keep hearing the same thing from different sources (caveat: but I've also been hearing the term 'self publicist' repeated a few times lately, too)...

Iraq is a *big* issue on doorsteps. Far bigger than you may suspect. Many constituents who raise this issue with Labour peeps who knock on their door have been told 'off the record' by candidates/canvassers that Blair will 'definitely' go after the election and be replaced by Brown, so they should just relax and vote Labour (or else the Tories will get in etc. etc. etc.).

UPDATE - Ohh, lookie! Is this them? (Gah! Frames! Frames are death!)

UPDATE - Guido says: The second story, originally told to me by a Labour PPC, is that Labour HQ is giving candidates free licence to drop Tony Blair from their propaganda or even send out anti-Blair signals without fear of censure. Hence the Blair-free ready-made leaflets available from Labour HQ and the 17 anti-War Labour MPs stridently coming out of the closet.

Posted by Manic on March 30, 2005 10:15 AM in the category UK General Election 2005

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Frames, bombs and earthquakes are all death...

Posted by: Guy Gooberman at March 30, 2005 11:59 AM

"Many constituents who raise this issue with Labour peeps who knock on their door have been told 'off the record' by candidates/canvassers that Blair will 'definitely' go after the election..."

Seeing as how Blair said himself he was standing down before the election after this one, he could "definitely" go in four years time and these candidates/convassers technically won't have been telling lies.

Never underestimate the mendacity of New Labour candidates sweating on their majorities.

Posted by: Chicken Yoghurt at March 31, 2005 3:46 PM

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	« Eclectic link dump #9 \| Main \| Seeing as you're not busy.... » March 30, 2005 The careful application of pressure stems bleeding A heads-up via Perfect.co.uk... Independent - Labour MPs to fight on anti-war ticket: Labour MPs who opposed the Iraq war are to defy Tony Blair by making it a key "issue of trust" at the general election expected on 5 May. In a setback for the Prime Minister's attempt to "move on" from Iraq two years after the military action, 17 rebel MPs have signed a declaration saying: "I was and remain totally opposed to the war on Iraq. If elected as your parliamentary representative in the forthcoming general election, I will do everything in my power to bring the occupation of Iraq to an end." The MPs fear a backlash from voters over the war and will try to insulate themselves against one by including the statement in their election leaflets. The rebels' decision to make Iraq "an issue of trust" is a coded attack on Mr Blair. The following is anecdotal evidence only, but I keep hearing the same thing from different sources (caveat: but I've also been hearing the term 'self publicist' repeated a few times lately, too)... Iraq is a big issue on doorsteps. Far bigger than you may suspect. Many constituents who raise this issue with Labour peeps who knock on their door have been told 'off the record' by candidates/canvassers that Blair will 'definitely' go after the election and be replaced by Brown, so they should just relax and vote Labour (or else the Tories will get in etc. etc. etc.). UPDATE - Ohh, lookie! Is this them? (Gah! Frames! Frames are death!) UPDATE - Guido says: The second story, originally told to me by a Labour PPC, is that Labour HQ is giving candidates free licence to drop Tony Blair from their propaganda or even send out anti-Blair signals without fear of censure. Hence the Blair-free ready-made leaflets available from Labour HQ and the 17 anti-War Labour MPs stridently coming out of the closet. Posted by Manic on March 30, 2005 10:15 AM in the category UK General Election 2005 Pings (Trackback) For trackbacks, this is the URL: http://www.bloggerheads.com/cgi-bin/mt-tbbh_20x07.pl/348 Comments Frames, bombs and earthquakes are all death... Posted by: Guy Gooberman at March 30, 2005 11:59 AM "Many constituents who raise this issue with Labour peeps who knock on their door have been told 'off the record' by candidates/canvassers that Blair will 'definitely' go after the election..." Seeing as how Blair said himself he was standing down before the election after this one, he could "definitely" go in four years time and these candidates/convassers technically won't have been telling lies. Never underestimate the mendacity of New Labour candidates sweating on their majorities. Posted by: Chicken Yoghurt at March 31, 2005 3:46 PM Post a comment Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out) (If you're new to Bloggerheads, you may need to be approved by the moderator before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.) URL: Remember me? YesNo Comments:

The careful application of pressure stems bleeding

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