The venal and loathsome Hazel Blears survived a vote of no-confidence tonight at her Labour party meeting in Salford tonight held in Swinton Town hall, by a margin of 31 votes to 13. Anger her about expense abuses has been moving between simmering and boiling over during the last few weeks.

There was a healthy and vocal protest set up to greet her outside the town hall. But Hazel in a desperate urge to re-connect with the voters, snuck in through some backdoor, avoiding the entire nation's national TV news crews and a large posse of local and national reporters.

Two issues now follow. The Labour Party have saddled themselves with the poisoned challice of Hazel Blears until the next general election.

This can only generate more anger and bitterness over the coming months. Secondly, by what means and mechanisms does the Left and those who opposed Blears from a principled postion come together to select a candidate, that they and the good folk of Salford can rally around and build a campaign that can topple Blears. There will be a number of chancers willing to have a go, not to mention the suggestion of shoe-horning in the man in white, Martin Bell.

We now have a confident BNP who may make a running of this as well This is a test of how the left can make its self relevant and demonstrate that it create a democratic and inclusive process as it goes forward in the the task of 'flipping' her out of her seat

Richard Searle
Manchester Respect

18/06/2009 Hazel Blears - still clinging to the gravy train

18/06/2009
Hazel Blears - still clinging to the gravy train