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No respite in criticism of Blair

IRNA

London, Dec 29, IRNA -- Prime Minister Tony Blair, holidaying in 
Egypt, was given no respite Monday from former ministers, religious 
leaders and backbench Labour MPs expressing growing discontent over 
his leadership. 
Two leading bishops joined former Foreign Secretary Robin Cook in 
further questioning the legitimacy of the Iraq war, while one of his 
closest allies warned that his government had lost "its momentum and 
sense of political direction." 
The Archbishop of York, David Hope, second to the Archbishop of 
Canterbury, said that the Prime Minister, currently taking a Christmas
break at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, would in the end have 
to answer to God over his decision to go to war. 
The Bishop of Durham, Tom Wright, whose diocesan covers Blair`s 
Sedgefield constituency in north-east England, went further in 
accusing the Prime Minister of acting like a "vigilante." 
The renewed criticism of the war came as Cook warned Blair that he
would never recover his credibility "until he stops insisting he is 
right when the public can see he was wrong." 
On Sunday, former International Development Secretary Clare Short 
told Sky News that she hoped that the Prime Minister "steps down 
gracefully" for the honour of the government and the ruling Labour 
Party. 
She said that his "lies" over the Iraq war were worse than those 
of former Conservative War Minister John Profumo, who was forced to 
resign over a sex scandal in 1963. 
Adding to the concern Monday, former Trade Secretary, Stephen 
Byers, who is regarded as one of Blair`s closest allies, urged the 
Prime Minister to stop attacking his party and unite Labour members. 
He suggested that there should be a major relaunch after next 
month`s publication of the inquiry into the death of former Iraq arms 
inspector David Kelly, which is expected to criticise the government. 
"Now is the time to draw up dividing lines and define himself and 
New Labour against the political right," Byers told Blair`s local 
daily, the Newcastle Journal. 
Echoing his warning, Labour MP Ian Gibson, one of the most highly 
academically qualified members of the House of Commons, said that the 
Prime Minister faces a tough year ahead and needed to make important 
decisions about his political future. 
"Many people are asking the question `How long will he stay?" 
There are issues there now that were not there a year ago. I think he 
needed his holiday. He is coming back to a different party and a 
different country than this time last year," Gibson said. 
He said Blair would be judged not only on Iraq and the Kelly 
inquiry but also Britain`s relations with the US and plans to 
introduce controversial `top-up` fees for universities. 
HC/210 
End