More than 100 MPs sign petition attacking PM

[cal04]

The extent of the Labour backbench unrest over Tony Blair's handling of the Middle East crisis is laid bare for the first time today in a petition calling for an immediate ceasefire.

More than 110 Labour MPs, including Paul Clark, the parliamentary private secretary to John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, have signed the petition. That would be enough to wipe out Mr Blair's Commons majority. Mr Blair will not face the immediate threat of a vote because the Commons has risen for the summer recess, but it shows that he has lost the support of almost a third of the Parliamentary Labour Party on the issue.

(snip)
The signatories included Martin Salter, the MP for Reading West, a member of the Parliamentary committee, a group of senior MPs who meet the Prime Minister every week. Most Liberal Democrat MPs, including Sir Menzies Campbell, said they would sign the petition, along with 10 Tory MPs.

Cabinet ministers are ordered not to sign petitions to avoid splits in the Government. "We contacted every cabinet minister and none of them said they supported Mr Blair's position, which is pretty surprising," said Brendan Cox, director of Crisis Action. He said the petition, available at www.ceasefiretoday.org, had been signed by more than 35,000.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1214560.ece

[whistle]

1. Tony Blair is in his death throes as head of the British Labour Party

...or is he?

<snip>
Rupert Murdoch To Offer Tony Blair Senior Role In Media Empire...
The Independent | Andrew Grice | Posted July 28, 2006 07:50 PM
AP

The media magnate Rupert Murdoch is expected to offer Tony Blair a senior role in his News Corporation empire when he stands down as Prime Minister.

Allies of Mr Blair insist he has made no decisions about his plans when he leaves Downing Street -- almost certainly next year. But some friends say a seat on the board of News Corp could tempt the outgoing Prime Minister, as it would dovetail neatly with the lucrative United States lecture circuit. Mr Blair's popularity at home may be waning, but he remains big box office in America. His close relationship with Mr Murdoch will be highlighted tomorrow when he addresses the annual gathering of News Corp's executives and senior journalists from around the world.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/07/28/rupert-murdoch-to-offer-t_n_26035.html

<snip>

Schwarzenegger Promises Blair 'Terminator 4' Role
By WENN| Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Photo GalleryHOLLYWOOD - Hollywood hardman-turned-California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised to secure Tony Blair a part in a potential Terminator sequel.
Schwarzenegger, who starred in the original three movies as the unstoppable cyborg assassin, is concerned the British Prime Minister may struggle finding jobs after his term in office ends.

Speaking after a global warming discussion with Blair and industry leaders in Long Beach, California, yesterday, the Austrian-born star suggested, "Maybe head of the UN, maybe something that is a step up. Who knows what it is because it is a big job that he has right now.

"I think whatever job he wants he will get because he's got such a good success rate at home and he's done such a remarkable job in Europe and England and in the world as a leader. <more>

http://www.hollywood.com/news/detail/id/3538589

[ShortnFiery]

3. No worries! Tony Blair like John Major will be IN The Carlyle Group!

It's all about War Profiteering and Corporate World Power. :puke:

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. My simple Canuk brain says there WAS no "crisis" in the ME b4 the invasion

.
.
.

Iraqis, despite the sanctions, were better off under Saddam than they are under this "Operation Liberation" or whatever else the "coalition of the willing" call it

Did I miss something?

[jaysunb]

4. No, you didn't miss anything

and your assessment is correct . :toast:

[Greeby]

5. MIne has signed it

http://www.ceasefiretoday.org/

Phyllis Starkey (Labour - Milton Keynes South West)

Funny that, I usually have her pegged as a total Blair-bot

[Vidar]

6. Applauding the Brits.

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. How soon before a no-confidence vote?

Or maybe even impeachment? I seem to recall that it has been decades since a PM was tossed out on a vote of no confidence, and centuries since the last impeachment, but British political history isn't my strong suit. Are things in Parliament getting that ugly?

[ShockediSay]

8. Why can't the US have an effective democracy expression

as this?

Is it on account of the Lobby Lawyers?

[savemefromdumbya]

9. Blair damages the Labour Party

People vote for the party not for the PM (only in his capacity as an MP in his own constituency). The cheap trick of war to gain Tory voter support may have worked this far. He has damaged the party. Unfortunately the Blairites have had such a strong influence within the party for so long it has been difficult to work within to remove him as leader. Perhaps at last we should see some changes after the Labour Party conference this October?

[LivingInTheBubble]

11. Its not just the war

Tony is tory through and through, he is slowly but surely privatising education and the health service and anything else he can. People would notice if he did it directly so he is going the long route but his goals are no different from Thatcher.

[w4rma]

10. Wow, even Blair's own cabinet doesn't support him.

Cabinet ministers are ordered not to sign petitions to avoid splits in the Government. "We contacted every cabinet minister and none of them said they supported Mr Blair's position, which is pretty surprising," said Brendan Cox, director of Crisis Action.

[Posteritatis]

12. When are they gonna get on his case about the Leg. Reform Bill? (nt)