Friday, January 26, 2007

Hazel Blears Out of Deputy Leader Race

Iain Dale's little chipmunk hasn't quite announced it yet but the writing is on the wall. Hazel Blears recently joined a demonstration in her constituency to oppose the closure of a maternity unit at a local hospital.

When a further demonstration was held yesterday, the Labour Party chairman decided not to attend. Presumably, Ms Blears knows she can't win the deputy leadership contest, so she's given up trying to look concerned about the closure of a piddling little maternity unit.

Her absence from the demonstration is a clear sign that she is out of the race.


Update Sat 24th Feb: Hazel has changed her mind. She did it to spite me. I wish her well, though ... and fully expect her to come nowhere in the race. But I still think she'll accept a seat in the House of Lords when Brown becomes PM.

8 comments:

Chris Paul said...

This is (a) a story in the Manchester Evening News and (b) clearly briefed by Ian Stewart. Stewart wasn't at the earlier demo was he? So surely that is 1-1? And Thursday is very much a working day at Westminster.

I'll not be voting for her but the idea she's out of the race because she does not go to an anti Whitehall demo is perverse, isn't it?

The demo and Hazel's attendance in particular is not aimed at LP members nationwide it is aimed at the SHA etc and to a small extent at local constituency members.

UK Daily Pundit said...

I can assume from your response that you won't agree with a follow up post next week, where I will reveal that Hazel Blears is on her way to the House of Lords.

james higham said...

That's a good reading of the situation, UKDP. The little chipmunk is a rank opportunist of the first order. And clever [not].

Paul Linford said...

So Hazel's on her way to the Lords. Meanwhile, still no sign of David Davis resigning or George Osbourne being sacked.

UK Daily Pundit said...

Not to mention the shadow cabinet reshuffle which I was led to believe was imminent. But take heart Paul, and put your money on the Monica Lewinsky story.

Did Blair Entertain Monica Lewinsky at Chequers? »

UK Daily Pundit said...

Forgot the link:

Shadow Cabinet Reshuffle Imminent »

Stuart said...

Ooops, wrong again.

UK Daily Pundit said...

Everyone knows she did it to spite me.