Blair reshapes government amid calls to quit

[Miss Chybil]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=2&u=/nm/20050509/ts_nm/britain_blair_dc

By Katherine Baldwin
53 minutes ago

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair rejected calls to resign on Monday as he reshuffled the ministerial pack after last week's election sharply weakened his Labour government.

Blair won an unprecedented straight third term for the center-left Labour party last week, but voters whose trust in him was damaged by Iraq more than halved his majority.

Britain's political debate on Monday was dominated by one question: when will he quit?

"The whole story of the government is going to be 'when is he going,"' said Labour parliamentarian Clare Short, a frequent thorn in Blair's side who resigned from the Cabinet over Iraq.

more...
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=2&u=/nm/20050509/ts_nm/britain_blair_dc

[bemildred]

1. When is his war crimes trial starting, that's the question. nt

[Zorra]

2. Do they have a way to impeach him or use another process to get the liar

out of office?

[bennywhale]

4. There is already a campaign to impeach him by some MP's

Plaid Cumry (Welsh nationalists) started it but some liberal democrats and even the more troublesome members of his own Labour Party have signed it.

There are manouverings going on frantically in the party and i don't think he'll last a year. Many Labour MPs opposed the war, and are against his relentless assault on civil liberties.

The pressure is on now with many publicly calling for him to quit after losing so many seats and the pressure will remain until he goes.

[tjwmason]

5. The impeachment's going nowhere

It might get as far as a debate in the Commons, but there's no chance of it passing.

He may well be forced out/eased out earlier than he would like however.

Plaid Cymru and the LibDems know this, and are only trying to get the information out into the public arena.

[bennywhale]

9. Thats true

it is only for publicity purposes, but it'll keep the debate going you're right

[tjwmason]

10. A debate would be a massive step forwards though

It would allow the raising of a whole raft of issues under Parliamentary Privilege, and allow them to be presented together in a coherent manner which would greatly enhance the argument.

[Spazito]

3. With the calls from within his own party for Blair to announce

a date for his departure so early after the election, Blair is toast, imo. There is no way he can hang on for three years, I suspect, at best, he may last one year.

He is a lame duck PM and until he gives a date for departure, little of consequence will be accomplished in Parliament, imo.

[BooScout]

6. He'll be gone.....

.....within 12 months and Gordon Brown will be in if Labour wants not to lose any more votes in the next election.

[BillZBubb]

7. Howdy Boo! Welcome to DU.

I guess the problem is does Labour really understand what a liability Blair will continue to be. It sure seems like most of them do not.

[BooScout]

8. They should......

..understand after last week's election results when they gave up so many seats to the Lib Dems and the Tories.

Thanks for the welcome amBushed...I actually have been around for a year or two reading a good bit. :)