Survivor Blears hails party backing

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The former Communities Secretary said the Labour Party had "rallied behind me" after she kept the party's nomination for her Salford seat.

The voting was 33 against the deselection motion, 12 for and one abstention.

Ms Blears said: "We have had one of the most sensible discussions that I have had about this issue for weeks and weeks.

"I'm at a loss as to how I got to this place but what I've had is the first chance to explain myself properly to my party members."

In a sometimes fiery and passionate two-and-three-quarter hour meeting, some party members berated Ms Blears for coming within a "hair's breadth" of bringing down Gordon Brown.

Accusations of "blind loyalty" were thrown around with the local party being left with a "lame duck" candidate for the next general election.

Some local party members said they themselves had been verbally attacked in the street following the expenses scandal because they were known to be party members.

Ms Blears gave an explanation of her expenses citing inaccuracies in the way the media had reported the furore but apologised again for the timing of her resignation.

Members accepted they had a huge job in turning round the party's popularity but said Salford and other urban areas had been transformed through Labour government and the fight would go on.