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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Move on from Blair, Labour urged | Move on from Blair, Labour urged |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| One of the contenders for Labour's deputy leadership has said it is time for the party to move on from Blairism. | One of the contenders for Labour's deputy leadership has said it is time for the party to move on from Blairism. |
| Speaking to BBC One's The Politics Show, Jon Cruddas said the "magic" of Tony Blair's early years had changed into an "extraordinary" resilience. | Speaking to BBC One's The Politics Show, Jon Cruddas said the "magic" of Tony Blair's early years had changed into an "extraordinary" resilience. |
| Mr Cruddas, the candidate from the left of the party, said: "The page has turned, it's time to move on." | Mr Cruddas, the candidate from the left of the party, said: "The page has turned, it's time to move on." |
| An aide to Mr Cruddas said the Dagenham MP and former Downing Street adviser felt Labour needs to "refresh itself". | An aide to Mr Cruddas said the Dagenham MP and former Downing Street adviser felt Labour needs to "refresh itself". |
| Mr Cruddas has previously said the party needed to reconnect with the electorate. | Mr Cruddas has previously said the party needed to reconnect with the electorate. |
| Seven challengers | Seven challengers |
| The prime minister and the deputy prime minister John Prescott are due to stand down by September this year. | The prime minister and the deputy prime minister John Prescott are due to stand down by September this year. |
| "Ten years is an awfully long time to be prime minister of any one country," Mr Cruddas told The Politics Show. | "Ten years is an awfully long time to be prime minister of any one country," Mr Cruddas told The Politics Show. |
| "That sort of magic of the early years has changed into a sort of resilient durability, which is very impressive, irrespective of whether you agree with it or not. | "That sort of magic of the early years has changed into a sort of resilient durability, which is very impressive, irrespective of whether you agree with it or not. |
| "I mean, the stuff he takes is extraordinary." | "I mean, the stuff he takes is extraordinary." |
| His comments come after Mr Blair appealed for party activists to keep faith with the New Labour agenda. | His comments come after Mr Blair appealed for party activists to keep faith with the New Labour agenda. |
| Addressing Labour's national policy forum in London on Saturday, the prime minister said the next general election would be decided by policies rather than current controversies such as the cash-for-honours inquiry. | Addressing Labour's national policy forum in London on Saturday, the prime minister said the next general election would be decided by policies rather than current controversies such as the cash-for-honours inquiry. |
| Hilary Benn, Hazel Blears, Peter Hain, Harriet Harman, Alan Johnson and Jack Straw are the other MPs to officially declare, or indicate, an interest in the deputy leadership post. | Hilary Benn, Hazel Blears, Peter Hain, Harriet Harman, Alan Johnson and Jack Straw are the other MPs to officially declare, or indicate, an interest in the deputy leadership post. |
| 'Contest needed' | |
| Tony Benn said a contest for the position of Labour party leader was needed to give party members and the trade unions a chance to vote when Mr Blair finally steps down. | |
| He also claimed that if leadership contender John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, is not nominated, then party members will have been "shut out". | |
| Mr Benn told GMTV's The Sunday Programme: "If MPs refused to nominate John McDonnell for example... and deny the party a choice, then Gordon Brown will not have been elected and will have no authority. | |
| "There must be an election. If it turns out that the Labour Party have a coronation, I mean we might as well have a heredity leader of the Labour Party." | |
| The Politics Show is on BBC One at 1200 GMT on Sunday. | The Politics Show is on BBC One at 1200 GMT on Sunday. |