'BLAIR TO QUIT'
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cotty

Original Poster:

42,226 posts

313 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
Sorry if its already been posted

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13398424,00.html

Tony Blair is reported to be ready to stand down as an MP at the next General Election.

The Prime Minister has told friends and family he wants to give up frontline politics, The Guardian reported.


The move will mean Mr Blair will escape accusations he may become a backseat political driver when his successor, thought to be Chancellor Gordon Brown, takes over.

Mr Blair, 52, has discussed his intentions with his wife, Cherie, and some of his oldest political allies have been told of his plans for "a clean break," the paper added.

The newspaper said Mr Blair was not interested in becoming a reforming European Union president.

One source said that apart from writing his memoirs Mr Blair also wants to do something relevant to his religious beliefs, including promoting inter-faith unity.

His decision buries suggestions that he may rethink his intention to stand down as prime minister and party leader near the end of his third term, which he won during elections on May 5.

Mr Blair said eight months before the last General Election he intended to stand down as Prime Minister.

But some of his confidants are reported to have urged him to stay on following a surge in his popularity.

Mr Blair has been MP for Sedgefield since 1983.

robdickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
A nice EU commision then a long retirement I bet...

or a comphy seat in the lords.

Mon Ami Mate

6,589 posts

297 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
cotty said:
Sorry if its already been posted

www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13398424,00.html

Tony Blair is reported to be ready to stand down as an MP at the next General Election.

The Prime Minister has told friends and family he wants to give up frontline politics, The Guardian reported.


The move will mean Mr Blair will escape accusations he may become a backseat political driver when his successor, thought to be Chancellor Gordon Brown, takes over.

Mr Blair, 52, has discussed his intentions with his wife, Cherie, and some of his oldest political allies have been told of his plans for "a clean break," the paper added.

The newspaper said Mr Blair was not interested in becoming a reforming European Union president.

One source said that apart from writing his memoirs Mr Blair also wants to do something relevant to his religious beliefs, including promoting inter-faith unity.

His decision buries suggestions that he may rethink his intention to stand down as prime minister and party leader near the end of his third term, which he won during elections on May 5.

Mr Blair said eight months before the last General Election he intended to stand down as Prime Minister.

But some of his confidants are reported to have urged him to stay on following a surge in his popularity.

Mr Blair has been MP for Sedgefield since 1983.


He won't last until the next election. He clearly has no more stomach for the job and is looking for an escape route. The left will increasingly turn on him. There will be a sudden announcement that he is retiring for health reasons and Brown will be rapidly ushered in. I'd be surprised if this didn't happen before the end of this year.

tinman0

18,231 posts

269 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
Plus he has an enormous mortgage and needs to get on the US speech circuit asap.

off_again

13,917 posts

263 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
tinman0 said:
Plus he has an enormous mortgage and needs to get on the US speech circuit asap.


Cynic..... mind you it does somewhat suprise me how an MP (or PM) can afford a £1M house.... how do they do that?

robdickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
Cherie earns a skip load of cash.

puggit

49,798 posts

277 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
robdickinson said:
Cherie earns a skip load of cash.
From defending illegal immigrants on legal aid

off_again

13,917 posts

263 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
puggit said:

robdickinson said:
Cherie earns a skip load of cash.

From defending illegal immigrants on legal aid


Yeah, she's pretty successful. But not just Blair though. What about all of the others who have three houses and a £1m pad in London..... I mean the mortgage payments must be in the £10K's a month.... who on earth do you do that... I mean, its not as if the job is particularily stable is it? Mortgage lenders can look upon an MP as a fixed job for 3-4 years maximum.....

robdickinson

31,343 posts

283 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
Nothing stops MP's from earning outside of their day job.

The odd Non executive position here and there or speech etc, no worries. The only thing they have to be carefull of is making sure their intrestes are noted.

turbobloke

117,176 posts

289 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
£1m house? Wasn't it £3m?

off_again

13,917 posts

263 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
robdickinson said:
Nothing stops MP's from earning outside of their day job.

The odd Non executive position here and there or speech etc, no worries. The only thing they have to be carefull of is making sure their intrestes are noted.


Oh, didnt think of that one. I guess they wouldn't be using their MP privilege would they? I imagine they are whiter-than-white and dont attempt to act for anyone else other than their electorate.....

Yeah right..... just flippin' cynical about the whole political system in all honesty. I have to be above board with all of the dealings that I have had in business - so why cant our elected ministers? Or am I expecting too much?

targarama

14,784 posts

312 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
If they've been living in London for a few years, and your average senior MP is at least in their late 40s so probably will have been, then simply with price appreciation they will be sitting on something approaching £1M. Not hard if you've ridden the wave.

racefan_uk

2,935 posts

285 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
off_again said:

Cynic..... mind you it does somewhat suprise me how an MP (or PM) can afford a £1M house.... how do they do that?


You'll be wanting to read this then...

www.edstrong.blog-city.com/cherie_blair_goes_to_washington_with_a_motto_greed_is_still_.htm

driftwood

531 posts

264 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
Is this good news or bad?
Blair to quit at next General Election....but we've just had one.

cotty

Original Poster:

42,226 posts

313 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
driftwood said:
Is this good news or bad?

Bad if we get Gordon Brown as his replacement

Bitter'n'twisted

595 posts

287 months

Monday 1st August 2005
quotequote all
cotty said:

driftwood said:
Is this good news or bad?


Bad if we get Gordon Brown as his replacement


Which we will.

Although they could lose (tingers crossed) the next election. In which case it will be a good thing, 'cos I think Brown will make them less electable. Which is a good thing of course!