Blair faces motion at conference to resign

[T_i_B]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=446446

Grassroots members of the Labour Party in Brent East want to oust Tony Blair as Prime Minister because of the party's surprise defeat in last week's by-election.

Labour sources said yesterday that the party in Brent, north London, would table an emergency motion at Labour's annual conference in Bournemouth next week calling for a leadership contest. Some members have complained that the Labour campaign was "taken over" by figures from the party's national headquarters.

When Labour is in power, a leadership contest can be triggered only by the conference voting for one by a simple majority on a card vote. Other local parties are also expected to submit emergency motions calling for a leadership election.

The Labour hierarchy is expected to ensure that the motion is not debated. The trade unions hold 50 per cent of the conference votes and, while some have been critical of Mr Blair, there is little stomach for a divisive leadership contest. "People may want a different leader and different policies, but very few want six months of self-flagellation," said one left-winger. "It would be mutually assured destruction."