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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| End Labour deputy post, MPs urge | End Labour deputy post, MPs urge |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| A group of Labour MPs is calling for the party to scrap the post of deputy leader, arguing that the impending election contest will be too costly. | A group of Labour MPs is calling for the party to scrap the post of deputy leader, arguing that the impending election contest will be too costly. |
| They estimate the ballot would cost the party - which is £23m in debt - £2m and would cost unions more than £1.5m. | They estimate the ballot would cost the party - which is £23m in debt - £2m and would cost unions more than £1.5m. |
| They also believe the competition could be divisive within the party. | They also believe the competition could be divisive within the party. |
| Alan Johnson, John Cruddas, Harriet Harman and Peter Hain are among seven MPs to officially or semi-officially declare interest in the post. | |
| Hilary Benn, Jack Straw and Hazel Blears have also been mentioned. | Hilary Benn, Jack Straw and Hazel Blears have also been mentioned. |
| At Labour's conference John Prescott made it clear he will resign as Deputy Leader at the same time as Tony Blair leaves office. | At Labour's conference John Prescott made it clear he will resign as Deputy Leader at the same time as Tony Blair leaves office. |
| But former minister John Spellar told PM on BBC Radio 4 the potential cost was "an awful lot of money to spend for the election". | But former minister John Spellar told PM on BBC Radio 4 the potential cost was "an awful lot of money to spend for the election". |
| He added: "At the same time we're also seeing cabinet members, almost by definition, having to distance themselves from each other... | He added: "At the same time we're also seeing cabinet members, almost by definition, having to distance themselves from each other... |
| "They should all be pulling together and quite frankly - not running campaigns, but running their departments and running the country. | "They should all be pulling together and quite frankly - not running campaigns, but running their departments and running the country. |
| "And this could go on until next summer." | "And this could go on until next summer." |