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| Blears calls for Labour 'unity' | Blears calls for Labour 'unity' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Labour chairwoman Hazel Blears has urged the party to regain its "sense of unity" ahead of its annual conference. | Labour chairwoman Hazel Blears has urged the party to regain its "sense of unity" ahead of its annual conference. |
| The party has been hit by developments in the cash-for-honours probe and infighting over Tony Blair's departure. | The party has been hit by developments in the cash-for-honours probe and infighting over Tony Blair's departure. |
| But Ms Blears said morale was not low as members headed to Manchester this weekend and there was no sense that the "end is nigh". | But Ms Blears said morale was not low as members headed to Manchester this weekend and there was no sense that the "end is nigh". |
| It comes as a poll in the Guardian suggests two thirds of voters think the government has run out of steam. | It comes as a poll in the Guardian suggests two thirds of voters think the government has run out of steam. |
| The public also think Conservative leader David Cameron would make a better prime minister than Gordon Brown, the ICM poll suggests. | The public also think Conservative leader David Cameron would make a better prime minister than Gordon Brown, the ICM poll suggests. |
| This year's conference will be Mr Blair's last as Labour leader. | This year's conference will be Mr Blair's last as Labour leader. |
| I think an election on the horizon has a remarkable effect on your discipline Hazel Blears href="/1/hi/uk_politics/5362832.stm" class="">Analysis: Blair's farewell | |
| Ms Blears said party members and MPs would want more than just a "show of unity" but to be "really united". | Ms Blears said party members and MPs would want more than just a "show of unity" but to be "really united". |
| In an interview with the Times, she said: "That goes right from the top to the bottom of the party. That sense of unity will be absolutely key." | In an interview with the Times, she said: "That goes right from the top to the bottom of the party. That sense of unity will be absolutely key." |
| She added: "For me, part of this test is whether we've got the governing gene in our DNA. | She added: "For me, part of this test is whether we've got the governing gene in our DNA. |
| "Do we really believe that Labour can be the natural party of government, or do we think that basically Tories rule but we come in every now and again as a bit of a change, but as an aberration, but the norm is a Tory government?" | "Do we really believe that Labour can be the natural party of government, or do we think that basically Tories rule but we come in every now and again as a bit of a change, but as an aberration, but the norm is a Tory government?" |
| Tensions | Tensions |
| Ms Blears said the mood within Labour remained "upbeat", despite this week's revelation that biotech mogul Sir Christopher Evans - who lent the party £1m during last year's election campaign - had been arrested by police investigating the cash-for-honours affair. | Ms Blears said the mood within Labour remained "upbeat", despite this week's revelation that biotech mogul Sir Christopher Evans - who lent the party £1m during last year's election campaign - had been arrested by police investigating the cash-for-honours affair. |
| Labour's chairwoman also played down tensions between Mr Blair and Mr Brown over the leadership. "There is genuinely not a mood of low morale, that the end is nigh," she insisted. | Labour's chairwoman also played down tensions between Mr Blair and Mr Brown over the leadership. "There is genuinely not a mood of low morale, that the end is nigh," she insisted. |
| She added that forthcoming tests at the ballot box - with May bringing local elections and crucial votes in Wales and Scotland - could be just what the party needed. | She added that forthcoming tests at the ballot box - with May bringing local elections and crucial votes in Wales and Scotland - could be just what the party needed. |
| "I think an election on the horizon has a remarkable effect on your discipline and single-mindedness. It concentrates minds wonderfully," she said. | "I think an election on the horizon has a remarkable effect on your discipline and single-mindedness. It concentrates minds wonderfully," she said. |
| She confirmed leaked reports that Labour wants a cap on election spending of £15m and further caps on spending at national and local level. | She confirmed leaked reports that Labour wants a cap on election spending of £15m and further caps on spending at national and local level. |
| The proposals are contained in Labour's submission to the Sir Hayden Phillips' review of party funding. | The proposals are contained in Labour's submission to the Sir Hayden Phillips' review of party funding. |
| If such measures were implemented, Ms Blears said, they would lessen the pressure to chase big donors, forcing party's to raise more funds at a local level. | If such measures were implemented, Ms Blears said, they would lessen the pressure to chase big donors, forcing party's to raise more funds at a local level. |
| Poll findings | Poll findings |
| The ICM poll published earlier by the Guardian will make grim reading for Labour strategists ahead of this weekend's conference. | The ICM poll published earlier by the Guardian will make grim reading for Labour strategists ahead of this weekend's conference. |
| Some 64% of respondents said the government had run out of steam, while 69% thought it was the most divided party in the wake of infighting over Mr Blair's departure date. | Some 64% of respondents said the government had run out of steam, while 69% thought it was the most divided party in the wake of infighting over Mr Blair's departure date. |
| A majority of 62% said Labour did not deserve to be re-elected. Asked who would make the best prime minister, 35% plumped for Mr Cameron, while 32% backed the current chancellor. | A majority of 62% said Labour did not deserve to be re-elected. Asked who would make the best prime minister, 35% plumped for Mr Cameron, while 32% backed the current chancellor. |
| However, despite the negativity, Labour's overall support climbed by one percentage point to 32% - still four points behind the Tories on 36%. | However, despite the negativity, Labour's overall support climbed by one percentage point to 32% - still four points behind the Tories on 36%. |
| ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,066 adults across the country by telephone on September 19 and 20. The results were weighted to fit the national profile. | ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,066 adults across the country by telephone on September 19 and 20. The results were weighted to fit the national profile. |