Labour PM defects to LibDems over Iraq

[Frederik]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=633082

"A prominent Labour politician will announce today that he is defecting to the Liberal Democrats in protest at Tony Blair's "lies" over Iraq.

The defection of Brian Sedgemore, who is standing down after 27 years as a Labour MP, threatens to upset Mr Blair's apparently unstoppable campaign for a historic third term.

Declaring that "enough is enough", Mr Sedgemore also reveals that a small group of unnamed fellow MPs who are standing down are secretly planning to leave the Labour Party in protest at Mr Blair's leadership after the election.

"The stomach-turning lies on Iraq were followed by the attempt to use the politics of fear to drive through Parliament a deeply authoritarian set of law-and-order measures that reminded me of the Star Chamber. The Star Chamber used torture but at least they allowed a proper trial before throwing someone into prison. That is when I decided enough was enough." "

:woohoo:

[David Dunham]

1. Blair's still going to win in a romp

[Benhurst]

3. Probably; but we can always hope. But the war criminals do seem

to be doing well these days on both sides of the Atlantic.

[lovuian]

5. I don't think so I think Liberal Dems will swoop in and take it!!!

Its Time!!!

[T_i_B]

18. Lib Dems are a third party

Therefore you have two chances of that happening. Bob Hope and No Hope.

[Benhurst]

2. "The Bridge" may be falling down, falling down, falling down,

my fair lady.

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[arcos]

4. And over 150 MPs may follow...

"Could this be the start of the open defection of over 150 Labour MPs who loathe the "Liar" and could this be followed by another 50 who have grave doubts about him? These figures were given by Mr. Sedgemore in his statement of his defection."

http://jmpolitics.blogspot.com/

[lovuian]

6. What your seeing is a revolution my friends on the eve

of an election and Blair is in big trouble!!!

[Pert_UK]

12. Basically, no......

unfortunately we're not going to suddenly see this many Labour MPs change sides.

I heard an interview with Sedgemore this morning - he refused to give any details re: numbers or names so I don't know where the 150 figure comes from.

There is NO WAY that large numbers of any party could defect to another party immediately after an election - they would lose all credibility and IMHO the result would have to be called null and void. It just CAN'T be legal to stand as a candidate for one party and then change after the election, otherwise in theory Labour could get in with 300 MPs, then all of them join the BNP and turn the country into a fascist, racist nightmare. There MUST be some law about standing as an MP on false pretences.

[frictionlessO]

7. So British DU'ers is this gonna be big??

How many would need to defect??? What will it take to get Blair gone?

That would really be a clarion call to some moderates still straggling that fence. If Vlair were to fall, we'd have some good amunition to lob around in '06 and '04... "their policies lost the jobs of the heads of state of our three biggest allies in the coalition!" ahhh that would be sweet sweet music to my ears.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Probably not that big

He's retiring, so his position doesn't change much (he had a huge majority at the last election - 64.2% v. 14.6% for the Lib Dem in 2nd place - and I can't see that many voters switching sides just because he asks them to). While it might be true that 150 Labour MPs despised Blair, at least half of them are too cowardly to go up against the party machine and rebel in any way. Many of those who will speak against Blair would want to stay in the party to be able to help get rid of him (outside of a general election, the Labour MPs are effectively the only people who can depose their leader). But they will want to keep Labour in power - just with a more traditional left-leaning outlook. And most people think that an orderly succession looks better to the voters - too much squabbling puts them off, is the theory (though I'm personally not convinced by that - a healthy debate in a party can actaully make it clear that the people do have principles).

Any newly elected MPs who left the Labour party immediately after the election would be risking ever getting elected again - it can look opportunistic. I'd be very surprised if more than a handful did it.

[frictionlessO]

19. Thanks for that! You posted in a very informative manner.

Its excatly what I was hoping someone would do... break it down for an outsider.

I lived in Newmarket for 4 years when I was in my teens and have since forgotten a lot of the workings of British governance.

[Frederik]

8. Of course...

the title should read "Labour MP". I don't think the LibDems would want the Labour PM anyway.

[w4rma]

9. Yes!! Go Brian Sedgemore! (nt)

[Pert_UK]

11. I'm guessing that should read "Labour MP", not PM....

unless Blair is heading to the LibDems too!

:evilgrin:

"Mr Sedgemore also reveals that a small group of unnamed fellow MPs who are standing down are secretly planning to leave the Labour Party in protest at Mr Blair's leadership after the election."

I just don't see that this can be true - it would be insane to run in an election as a Labour candidate, win, and then announce that actually you're joining another party....I don't know what the actual electoral law is, but it would effectively be outright lying to the electorate.

[autorank]

13. The Independent: Labour MP defects to Lib Dems over Iraq

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=633082

Exclusive: Labour MP defects to Lib Dems over Iraq
By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor 4/26/2005 2:01

26 April 2005

A prominent Labour politician will announce today that he is defecting to the Liberal Democrats in protest at Tony Blair's "lies" over Iraq.

The defection of Brian Sedgemore, who is standing down after 27 years as a Labour MP, threatens to upset Mr Blair's apparently unstoppable campaign for a historic third term.

Declaring that "enough is enough", Mr Sedgemore also reveals that a small group of unnamed fellow MPs who are standing down are secretly planning to leave the Labour Party in protest at Mr Blair's leadership after the election.

His decision to defect will intensify the escalating row over the legality of the war which was yesterday thrust to the centre of the election campaign.

<snip>

Writing in The Independent, Mr Sedgemore says: "I voted against the war on Iraq and it becomes clearer every day that Blair decided to go to war after meeting Bush on his Texas ranch in 2002. After that, he lied to persuade the country to support him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
May the floodgates of integrity open to a tidal wave of defections. Tony, we hardly knew ye! Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[The_Casual_Observer]

14. That little fact that there weren't any WMD is damned inconvenient

isn't it? Kind of hard to swallow when it is against international- fucking-law to invade a country that poses no threat. Kind of puts jolly old England on par with Jolly old Germany doesn't it?

[autorank]

15. Sure does. I've met my match for anti-Labour vitrol!

The sight of Tony Blair crying election eve...feels like victory.

[sweetheart]

16. Tony blair's retort in today's guardian

He's worried that the voters might "send him a message".

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/election/story/0,15803,1470387,00.html

And then without any serious concern over what that message might be,
he's on about how the torys might win through the back door, much as
how bush got in on the "clinton's dick" deception.

[ikri]

17. Very empty gesture

As the article says, he is standing down at this election anyway.

[Jack Rabbit]

20. Sedgemore's article

From the Independent of London
Dated Tuesday April 26

I urge everyone to give Blair a bloody nose at the election
By Brian Sedgemore, MP

The idea and practice of Britain as a liberal country has always been under threat but it has taken a Labour prime minister to secure its demise. For Tony Blair, principles and ideas have become impediments to the continuance of his lust for power.

His scorn for liberal Britain is surprising for one who had an expensive liberal education and who entered politics as an aspirant liberal lawyer, an ardent member of CND and a standard-bearer for the left.

People such as myself should have realised the writing was on the wall when a Labour government twice tried to abolish trial by jury. From there, it was a short step for Blair (but a huge step for the rest of us) to get suppliant backbench Labour MPs to vote for an unlawful war, the setting up of a gulag at Belmarsh for foreigners and deprivation of liberty through "control orders" and "pass laws" for British citizens.

I voted against the war on Iraq and it becomes clearer every day that Blair decided to go to war after meeting Bush on his Texas ranch in 2002. After that he lied to persuade the country to support him.

Read more.

I posted this on the UK forum for reaction from our British friends.

[emad]

21. Defecting MP says give Blair a 'bloody nose'

Telegraph
(Filed: 26/04/2005)

A former Labour MP who rebelled against the Iraq war has urged voters to give Tony Blair "a bloody nose" at the election as he announced his defection to the Liberal Democrats.

Brian Sedgemore called on voters to follow his example on May 5 as he declared that "the tawdry New Labour project is dead".

Mr Sedgemore was appearing alongside Charles Kennedy, Liberal Democrat leader, after confirming his decision to quit Labour after 37 years as a member, 27 of them as an MP.

The 68-year-old said: "The idea and practice of Britain as a liberal country has always been under threat but it has taken a Labour Prime Minister to secure its demise.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/04/26/usedgemore.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/04/26/ixportaltop.html

[0007]

22. Would love to see it happen. Wasn't too moved by Bill Clinton

endorsing Blair.

BTW what are you paying for petro in the U.K.? Did you get a raise in price?

[emad]

23. About 86p per litre unleaded. And it's going up all the time.

Cheaper to bung in some cooking oil and hit the road that way, except the cops round here are busting everybody else who's thought of that scam.......