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Salford MP bids for Labour deputy leadership

26/02/2007

Labour chair and Salford MP Hazel Blears has launched her bid for the deputy leadership of her party and is the sixth nominee to enter the race to replace John Prescott when he steps down later this year.

Long seen as a Blairite, Ms Blears said that Labour must not distance itself from prime minister Tony Blair and should continue to be seen as the party of aspiration.

She also confirmed that she does not intend to step down from her position as Labour chair, despite criticism from some quarters that this would represent a conflict of interest.

Ms Blears said: "We must use this leadership election and the transition to a new leadership team to showcase our party, its values and its policies to new supporters and voters.

"We must come out of the contest stronger than before. It must be our springboard to the next election and our chance to defeat the Tories."

Ms Blears announcement to enter the race for deputy leader follows Oldham West MP Michael Meacher's declaration that he intends to gather enough support to succeed Mr Blair as the leader of the Labour Party.




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