27 replies to this topic

[JAZ76US]

I hope everything works out for Mr. Blair. He will be in my prayers.

[Lottie]

Thats a really nice thing to say.

[Talon]

PM recovers amid leadership talk
The prime minister is recovering after hospital treatment for an irregular heartbeat amid mounting speculation about his political future.
Tony Blair, who underwent a procedure on Friday, has said that he intends to serve a full third term if elected.

BBC political correspondent Ian Watson says Gordon Brown's allies feel "betrayed" by this announcement.

The chancellor, who is widely seen as Mr Blair's successor, was out of the country when the announcement was made.


Leadership deal

The chancellor's allies believe a deal was brokered for Mr Brown to take over from Mr Blair, reports BBC polictical correspondent Ian Watson.

He told Radio 4's Today programme that they point to Mr Blair's recent purchase of a new house and the timing of his operation as evidence he had planned to hand over the reigns of power at the Labour party conference.

However on Thursday the prime minister announced his intention to serve a full third term in office if elected, but not a fourth.

Former Health Secretary Frank Dobson does not believe the announcement will affect the chancellor's leadership chances.



If I am elected I would serve a full third term - I do not want to serve a fourth term
Tony Blair
UK prime minister


He told Today: "I don't think the announcement materially changes the length of time Mr Blair is likely to remain as prime minister."

He added: "Gordon Brown is the towering figure in the cabinet and it is difficult to see that he will be less towering in two-and-a-half years when the prime minister is likely to disappear."

Former cabinet adviser Jack Cunningham said there is "not a shred of evidence" to suggest a deal had been struck between Mr Blair and the chancellor, dismissing it as "gossip".


Responding to mounting speculation about Mr Blair's future, he said: "Frankly it would help if others who have an idea about their own interests in the succession would just shut up and help him get on with governing the country".

"I just wish people in the party would focus more on the challenges that are coming up in the next general election and less on the speculation, media gossip and tittle-tattle about the prime minister".
Doctors have said the chances of Mr Blair's heart "flutter" returning were "very low".

The prime minister is understood to be travelling to his country house at Chequers.

Downing Street said he would return to work as normal on Monday.


Mr Blair, who said he felt "absolutely fine" as he returned home, plans to go ahead with a trip to Africa later next week.

Downing Street said he would not be having any formal meetings over the weekend, but he would be tackling some paperwork.

'Real contribution'

Chancellor Gordon Brown told the BBC his thoughts were with Mr Blair and his family.

He said: "I think the whole country will wish him well. It's gone very successfully."

But Mr Brown refused to comment on Mr Blair's announced intention to serve a third term.

Mr Blair told BBC political editor Andrew Marr in an interview that he felt he could still make a "real contribution" to the country.

"If I am elected I would serve a full third term. I do not want to serve a fourth term," he said.

Mr Blair went on to say Gordon Brown would be "very capable" of being prime minister and could take over at the end of a third term.

But some commentators believe the 53-year-old chancellor would be too old to mount a successful leadership bid in four or five years.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_p...ics/3709364.stm

[Lottie]

But some commentators believe the 53-year-old chancellor would be too old to mount a successful leadership bid in four or five years.

Aww come on the old trout Maggie was about 5000 years old when she was pm. In fact she is a walking corpse brought to life by black magic...

Edited by Lottie, 02 October 2004 - 11:24 AM.

[Talon]

I'm just surprised she's still alive I mean, it's been how long since her father and mother killed themselves in that buncker in WW2? How old does that make her  

[Lottie]

ROFL!!!!!!     

[Lottie]

I'm just surprised she's still alive I mean, it's been how long since her father and mother killed themselves in that buncker in WW2?  How old does that make her

OMG! After I stopped laughing so much it suddenly dawned on me! She IS old enough to be Hitlers love child!  

        
  

[Talon]

Yeah, she's late 60s, early 70s isn't she, here abouts .... a knew conspiracy theory is born

[Lottie]

hmmm interesting...

Margaret Roberts was born on 13th October 1925 in the small town of Grantham in the north of England.  Margaret’s father, Alfred, was a self-educated man who had been forced to leave school at fourteen.  He worked his way into the grocery business until he owned his own shop, above which the Roberts’ family lived.

CONSPIRACY! CONSPIRACY!:lol: HUGE cover up!!

Margaret’s father, Alfred

Subtly similar to Adolph.

He worked his way into the grocery business until he owned his own shop,

What that really means is that he worked his way through the political systems until he 'owned' Germany!



I think we are onto something here Talon!   

[wunarmdscissor]

BTW just thought id add lol although me an talon agree on many many issues , we have exactly the opposite view on independence.

I love being part of the UK and i am extremely proud to be british , i am also even more proud to be scottish.

LOL its split down the middle in scotland about independence , even if talon would have you all believe otherwise lol

We are strong as one and we would be weak seperately (i know that will severley piss talon off lol),.

Oh but i do agree the st andrews corss and teh lion Rampant ar far superior flags to the Union Flag. Even though technically talon you are looking at the saltire when you look at the Union flag as The Union flag is only an amalgamation of the home nation flags anyway lol.

[Talon]

LOL its split down the middle in scotland about independence , even if talon would have you all believe otherwise lol 

Lets just have a referendum and see   The pro-independence have SNP, SSP, Greens, 20% of the Labour party, 10% of the Liberal Democrats

The antis have 80% of Labour, 90% of Liberal, and... the Conservatives... all 2 two of them  

[Talon]

though technically talon you are looking at the saltire when you look at the Union flag

Not really, the George cross is stamped over the Saltire, ie. owned

[Talon]

Brown calls for unity as PM rests
The prime minister has gone to Chequers for a quiet weekend after hospital treatment for an irregular heartbeat.
Tony Blair, who underwent a procedure on Friday, sparked speculation about his future after he said he intends to serve a full third term if elected.

BBC political correspondent Ian Watson says Gordon Brown's allies feel "betrayed" by this announcement.

But on Saturday the Chancellor issued a call for party unity, saying people's prosperity was the priority.

Speculation warning

In Washington for annual IMF and World Bank meetings, he warned the government must not become distracted by speculation over the prime minister's future.

"The priority is to get on with the job of ensuring prosperity for the British people," he told the BBC.

"We have got to have the strength to take long-term decisions. We must never be distracted from that."

Earlier, former Cabinet minister Jack Cunningham reacted to leadership speculation saying people with "their own interests" in the leadership should "shut up".

The prime minister has announced his intention to serve a full third term in office if elected, but not a fourth. Mr Brown was in Washington when the news broke.

Mr Blair told BBC political editor Andrew Marr he felt he could still make a "real contribution" to the country.

"If I am elected I would serve a full third term. I do not want to serve a fourth," he said.

'Like a coup'

The chancellor's allies believe a deal was brokered for Mr Brown to take over from Mr Blair, according to BBC political correspondent Ian Watson.

He told Radio 4's Today programme that they point to Mr Blair's recent house purchase and the timing of his operation as evidence he had planned to hand over the reins of power at the Labour party conference.

A Brown aide is quoted in The Guardian as saying of Mr Blair's third term announcement: "I can't believe he's done this."

"It's like an African coup. They waited until he (Brown) was out of the country."

But Dr Cunningham, the former Cabinet "enforcer", said there is not a shred of evidence to suggest a deal had been struck between the two men, dismissing it as "gossip".
Speaking on Today, he said: "Frankly it would help if others who have an idea about their own interests in the succession would just shut up and help him get on with governing the country."

"I just wish people in the party would focus more on the challenges that are coming up in the next general election and less on the speculation, media gossip and tittle-tattle about the prime minister."

As Mr Blair left Downing Street for his official country residence on Saturday he smiled broadly and said he felt "excellent".

Doctors have said the chances of Mr Blair's heart flutter returning are very low and he plans to go ahead with a trip to Africa next week.

He has no formal meetings over the weekend, Downing Street said, but he would be tackling some paperwork.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_p...ics/3709364.stm