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02/05/2006
Blair seeks to restore support ahead of local elections
Prime Minister Tony Blair has urged Labour supporters not to be phased by the recent scandals which have plagued the party, ahead of this week's local government elections.
Speaking at the USDAW conference in Blackpool, Mr Blair said: "It has been difficult, but nine days of headlines should not obscure nine years of achievement."
Mr Blair stressed that voters should remember the Labour government's achievements on the economy, schools, hospitals, pensioners and children.
The Prime Minister emphasised investment in the NHS, saying that it had produced the lowest waiting lists on record, in spite of "all the challenges", investment made in schools and the introduction of tax credits and pension credits.
Labour has faced a difficult week, with both Home Secretary Charles Clarke and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott facing calls to resign, amid fears that Labour could face its worst council election results for 40 years.
Mr Clarke has been heavily criticised following the revelation that 1,023 foreign prisoners had been released in the UK without being considered for deportation. He has rejected repeated calls from the Conservatives to resign, even though it later emerged that 288 prisoners had been released since the Home Office first became aware of the problem.
On Tuesday afternoon it was announced that Mr Clarke would provide MPs with an update on efforts to track down foreign prisoners released without being considered for deportation on Wednesday.
The Conservatives had called for an urgent statement to be made to the Commons.
Mr Prescott has also been in the spotlight, after it emerged that he had a two-year affair with one of his secretaries.
Earlier on Tuesday, Conservative leader David Cameron again called for Mr Clarke to resign. He said: "There is a massive failure in the Home Office in terms of competence and administration and huge concern about public safety. The Prime Minister should bring forward his reshuffle and say goodbye to Charles Clarke.
"The Home Office needs new leadership to get to grips with these problems. It is just incredible that the Prime Minister clings on to someone whom people will look at and ask whether they trust him to put people first. He has to go."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Labour are on the ropes and with good reason. On crime, health and the environment, they are failing nationally and locally. It is now inevitable that many voters will use Thursday's poll as a referendum on the Prime Minister."
(KMcA)
Speaking at the USDAW conference in Blackpool, Mr Blair said: "It has been difficult, but nine days of headlines should not obscure nine years of achievement."
Mr Blair stressed that voters should remember the Labour government's achievements on the economy, schools, hospitals, pensioners and children.
The Prime Minister emphasised investment in the NHS, saying that it had produced the lowest waiting lists on record, in spite of "all the challenges", investment made in schools and the introduction of tax credits and pension credits.
Labour has faced a difficult week, with both Home Secretary Charles Clarke and Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott facing calls to resign, amid fears that Labour could face its worst council election results for 40 years.
Mr Clarke has been heavily criticised following the revelation that 1,023 foreign prisoners had been released in the UK without being considered for deportation. He has rejected repeated calls from the Conservatives to resign, even though it later emerged that 288 prisoners had been released since the Home Office first became aware of the problem.
On Tuesday afternoon it was announced that Mr Clarke would provide MPs with an update on efforts to track down foreign prisoners released without being considered for deportation on Wednesday.
The Conservatives had called for an urgent statement to be made to the Commons.
Mr Prescott has also been in the spotlight, after it emerged that he had a two-year affair with one of his secretaries.
Earlier on Tuesday, Conservative leader David Cameron again called for Mr Clarke to resign. He said: "There is a massive failure in the Home Office in terms of competence and administration and huge concern about public safety. The Prime Minister should bring forward his reshuffle and say goodbye to Charles Clarke.
"The Home Office needs new leadership to get to grips with these problems. It is just incredible that the Prime Minister clings on to someone whom people will look at and ask whether they trust him to put people first. He has to go."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Labour are on the ropes and with good reason. On crime, health and the environment, they are failing nationally and locally. It is now inevitable that many voters will use Thursday's poll as a referendum on the Prime Minister."
(KMcA)
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