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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Move on from Blair, Labour urged | Move on from Blair, Labour urged |
| (10 minutes 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." |
| Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell told the BBC the prime minister should be allowed to "get on with the job". | |
| 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. |
| 'Refresh itself' | 'Refresh itself' |
| 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. |
| "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. |
| I think that we should all suspend judgement until that time comes and not allow this to become a distraction from the business of government and get on with what people elected us to do Tessa Jowell | I think that we should all suspend judgement until that time comes and not allow this to become a distraction from the business of government and get on with what people elected us to do Tessa Jowell |
| "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. |
| On BBC One's AM programme, Ms Jowell, a staunch ally of Mr Blair, added: "The important thing is to allow the investigation to proceed. | On BBC One's AM programme, Ms Jowell, a staunch ally of Mr Blair, added: "The important thing is to allow the investigation to proceed. |
| "Everybody who is in any way involved in the operation is co-operating fully and I think that we should all suspend judgement until that time comes and not allow this to become a distraction from the business of government and get on with what people elected us to do." | "Everybody who is in any way involved in the operation is co-operating fully and I think that we should all suspend judgement until that time comes and not allow this to become a distraction from the business of government and get on with what people elected us to do." |
| 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' | '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. | 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". | 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. | 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." | "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. |