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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Blears survives confidence motion | Blears survives confidence motion |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Former Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has survived an attempt to force her deselection at a meeting of her constituency party in Salford. | Former Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has survived an attempt to force her deselection at a meeting of her constituency party in Salford. |
| Some party members criticised her for quitting the government on the eve of local elections this month and undermining the chances of candidates. | Some party members criticised her for quitting the government on the eve of local elections this month and undermining the chances of candidates. |
| Her expenses claims have also come under intense scrutiny. | Her expenses claims have also come under intense scrutiny. |
| Ms Blears told the BBC she was "very, very grateful" that Labour party members had "rallied behind" her. | Ms Blears told the BBC she was "very, very grateful" that Labour party members had "rallied behind" her. |
| A group of about 30 protesters gathered outside Salford Civic Centre with placards calling for her to go. | A group of about 30 protesters gathered outside Salford Civic Centre with placards calling for her to go. |
| Some of the protesters chanted "Hazel out, Hazel out". Four police officers watched the demonstration. | |
| Speaking after the vote, organiser Stephen Kingston, 50, said the campaign to remove Ms Blears would continue. | |
| "The reaction is that it shows the Labour party in Salford is completely and absolutely out of touch with their own voters," he said. | |
| "Labour is supposed to be the party of the working class, so why aren't they listening to the working class in Salford?" | |
| A few weeks do not wipe out 30 years in local and national politics Hazel Blears | A few weeks do not wipe out 30 years in local and national politics Hazel Blears |
| Contrite | |
| John Cullen, the constituency party chairman, told the BBC what had happened during the meeting. | |
| "There was a full, frank, open, honest and comradely debate of no confidence in Hazel as candidate for the next general election," he said. | |
| "When the vote was taken the motion was substantially defeated and so we move on from here." | |
| Mr Cullen said Ms Blears had "the fight and the spirit" to carry on, but she would also have to be "contrite" about what had happened. | |
| Ms Blears told the BBC the meeting had been "one of the most sensible discussions" she had had about the expenses row. | Ms Blears told the BBC the meeting had been "one of the most sensible discussions" she had had about the expenses row. |
| "I am at a loss sometimes to know how I got to this place, but what I've had tonight is the first chance to explain properly to my party members," she said. | "I am at a loss sometimes to know how I got to this place, but what I've had tonight is the first chance to explain properly to my party members," she said. |
| "They've not only accepted my explanation, they've rallied behind me. | "They've not only accepted my explanation, they've rallied behind me. |
| Steve Kingston said Hazel Blears had little local support | |
| "I also heard tonight from party members that events of a few weeks do not wipe out 30 years of a record in local and national politics, fighting and being a champion for some of the poorest people in our country." | "I also heard tonight from party members that events of a few weeks do not wipe out 30 years of a record in local and national politics, fighting and being a champion for some of the poorest people in our country." |
| 'Chance to rebuild' | |
| Ms Blears said she "bitterly regretted" the timing of her resignation and earlier criticism of Gordon Brown's performance. | Ms Blears said she "bitterly regretted" the timing of her resignation and earlier criticism of Gordon Brown's performance. |
| She said she had been "incandescently angry" about the situation and had felt she was being "hounded out" of her job. | She said she had been "incandescently angry" about the situation and had felt she was being "hounded out" of her job. |
| But she added: "Now I've got a chance to rebuild and reinvigorate my politics a little bit about reconnecting with the people." | But she added: "Now I've got a chance to rebuild and reinvigorate my politics a little bit about reconnecting with the people." |
| Despite the calls for her to step down as an MP at the next election, Ms Blears had been expected to survive the vote. | Despite the calls for her to step down as an MP at the next election, Ms Blears had been expected to survive the vote. |
| About 100 people had been expected to attend the meeting, but only some of them - delegates from the wards and unions - were able to vote. | |
| Thirty-three opposed the no confidence motion and 12 voted in favour of it. One voter abstained. | Thirty-three opposed the no confidence motion and 12 voted in favour of it. One voter abstained. |
| She repaid £13,000 after it emerged she had not paid capital gains tax on the sale of a property. | She repaid £13,000 after it emerged she had not paid capital gains tax on the sale of a property. |
| Although her actions were within the rules, they were described as "totally unacceptable" by the prime minister. | Although her actions were within the rules, they were described as "totally unacceptable" by the prime minister. |