Labour cards reshuffled, but joker remains |
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Sat, 06 May 2006 13:00
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LONDON - Reeling under the heavy criticism after the Labour Party suffered huge losses in the local elections; Prime Minister Tony Blair has reshuffled his Cabinet in a bid to shift the attention from these reverses. However there was no word yet on when he would step down. Blair has always said that he would leave before the next general election, but has not given a firm date.
However calls are growing for him to step down within his own party. Labour MP Graham Stringer said that Blair was acting as he wanted since he knew he did not have to face voters again, "It lets him take dangerous and risky decisions which aren't good for the party and aren't good for the country," he added. In fact media reports say a letter circulating among Labour backbenchers is calling for Blair to step down. These MPs are thought to want about 50 signatures on their letter.
Labour MP Geraldine Smith said she was not privy to the contents of the letter, but Mr Blair would face some intense pressure over the next few weeks. "In order to unify us, I think Tony Blair has got to be honest and tell us when he's going to stand down," she added.
In the reshuffle, Home Secretary Charles Clarke lost his job to Defense Secretary John Reid, while Foreign Secretary Jack Straw lost his department to Margaret Beckett, thus becoming the first woman to hold the post. The most puzzling move has been to retain John Prescott although he is stripped of the responsibilities of the office. Patricia Hewitt remains as health secretary despite inviting ridicule for calling this the best year for NHS.
The next few days could very well determine Tony Blair future as the head of the Labour government. He will need to use all his political acumen to remain in place and postpone the inevitable for few more days.
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