<font color=brown> Tony Blair says its not about doing the right thing.......its about winning. You can lie and play games as long as you win in the end!<font color=black>
ted
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Blair shifts attack to enemies in his party
By Christopher Adams, Political Correspondent
Published: February 27 2004 21:17 | Last Updated: February 27 2004 21:17
Tony Blair on Friday rounded on his enemies in the Labour party, using a speech the day after Clare Short's incendiary spy claims to warn disgruntled former ministers and left-wing MPs that their attacks risked sending the party back into opposition.
Capitalising on a backlash by mainstream Labour members against the former international development secretary, the prime minister accused his opponents of siding with the Conservatives.
He warned that the threat to Labour winning its third successive election was "the alliance that has attacked the Labour party throughout its history: the alliance between some of our own folk who are happy in opposition and the Tory party who are desperate to get out of it".
The speech to activists in Inverness marked a fresh attempt by Mr Blair to shift the focus from Iraq to the domestic agenda.
But as Downing Street tried to draw a line under Ms Short's allegations that Britain had been spying for years on Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary- general, several former UN officials and weapons inspectors either claimed or were reported to have had their phones tapped.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation claimed transcripts of calls made by Hans Blix, the former UN chief weapons inspector, were circulated among western allies, including Britain.
The Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs, numbering about 40 left-wingers, added to the prime minister's discomfort by tabling a Commons motion demanding he make a statement on the allegations. In his speech, Mr Blair stopped short of mentioning Ms Short directly but left little doubt he felt that the former cabinet minister was among those seeking to undermine him.
The Tories were "a bigger threat when they get a little help from our friends," he said.
The backlash against Ms Short was evident at Friday's Labour conference. One cabinet minister told the FT the prime minister would have felt "gutted" by her allegations.
"I've been absolutely horrified by her performance," the minister added. "She's pursued this thirstful vengeance and one- woman mission to get the PM.
"Her whole judgment has been completely disfigured by that. I would be very surprised if what she said was true. But I'm horrified she should talk about it."
Robin Cook, former foreign secretary, also doubted Ms Short's claims. He said he "would be surprised" if they were true and urged her to "put up or shut up".
Downing Street confirmed that Sir Emyr Jones Parry, Britain's UN permanent representative, spoke to Mr Annan on Thursday after the allegations. Mr Blair's official spokesman told reporters: "I'm not briefing on the conversation in any shape or form."
The UN is expected to seek a fuller explanation, although diplomats in New York appeared for the most part to be unruffled.
David Blunkett, home secretary, said he was "weighing up the details" of Ms Short's remarks. He did not rule out an investigation but said he would examine the facts "in the cold light of day".
Mr Blair is reluctant to take any action against Ms Short, believing that prosecution, ejecting her from the party or withdrawing the whip would make her an instant backbench martyr.
news.ft.com |
