Blair under pressure to resign

Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing increasing pressure to resign, just days after leading the Labour Party to victory in the General Election.

Former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook and former Health Secretary Frank Dobson have lent their voices to the growing campaign for Mr Blair to step down. Mr Dobson described the Prime Minister as a “liability” while Mr Cook, who resigned his Cabinet post over the war in Iraq, indicated to ‘The Times’ that Mr Blair should quit before next year’s local elections and the European referendum.

Former International Development Secretary Claire Short, who also resigned over the Iraq War, told BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme that if Mr Blair did not stand down there was a “real danger” that the government would appear divided, leading to a loss of seats in the local elections and becoming “weaker and weaker”.

The calls for Mr Blair to resign have intensified since the results of the general election. Although Labour won an historic third term, their majority was greatly reduced, from 161 to 67.

However, new Work and Pensions Secretary David Blunkett defended Mr Blair, calling his detractors “self indulgent”. Mr Blunkett, who resigned from his post as Home Secretary last year following a row about a fast-tracked visa for his ex-lover’s nanny, returned to the new Cabinet in Friday’s reshuffle.

Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair’s election strategist, said that he was “absolutely right” to remain to serve a third term and said that those who were attempting to write him off would be doing so “very, very prematurely”.

Mr Blair is continuing the Cabinet reshuffle today, focusing on the appointment of junior ministers. There is speculation over whether Andrew Adonis, the No.10 education advisor, will be given the post of Schools Minister, as well as also be made a peer. He would replace Stephen Twigg, who lost his seat to the Conservatives last week.

It has also been reported that former Home Office minister John Denham and Immigration Minister Beverley Hughes would return to government. Mr Denham resigned his post over the war in Iraq, while Ms Hughes quit her post following a row over a Eastern European visa scam.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell is tipped to also become Minister for Women, after she missed out on the job of Health Minister.

A number of senior Cabinet posts were announced on Friday evening. These included: Dr John Reid, who was moved to the post of Defence Secretary, while Patricia Hewitt moved from the Department of Trade and Industry to take his place as Health Secretary. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon became Leader of the House of Commons and David Blunkett returned to the Cabinet as Work and Pensions Secretary. Alan Johnson was placed in charge of the revamped Department of Trade and Industry – now renamed the Department of Productivity, Energy and Industry, and Douglas Alexander took the post of Minister for Europe.

As expected, Gordon Brown retained the post of Chancellor, Jack Straw remained as Foreign Secretary and Charles Clarke stays on as Home Secretary.

(KMcA/GB)