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Hazel Blears: I regret timing of my resignation
12.06.09
Hazel Blears today gave an emotional apology for her eve-of-election Cabinet resignation as she tried to fight off deselection.
The former communities secretary said she regretted "enormously" undermining Labour's vote in the Euro ballot, which slumped to 15 per cent. "I should have waited until after the election," she said. "The effect on the party is something I will live with for ever."
Her show of contrition came ahead of a meeting with angry activists in her Salford seat.
She faces a no-confidence vote and moves to deselect her as Labour's candidate, wrecking her political career. Local members were split into several factions, one of which wants her out.
Sounding shaken and on the verge of tears, Ms Blears also apologised for wearing a brooch with the slogan "rocking the boat" and for making a "hurtful" joke about the Prime Minister's appearances on YouTube.
"I've thought long and hard and I have a number of regrets," she told the Manchester Evening News. Poor judgment was to blame for her quitting the day before the elections.
She claimed not to have expected to create a political storm, even though most MPs assumed it was designed to weaken Gordon Brown's grip on power. "I genuinely thought I could go without it sparking off this huge firestorm," she said. "In hindsight that judgment was wrong."
A day later James Purnell quit and called for a change of leader, soon followed by Caroline Flint, another close friend. Ms Blears denied being in league with them. "There was no plot. I had no idea James was going," she said.
The ex-minister said she quit because of pressure over her expenses, partly blaming Mr Brown's comment that her conduct was "unacceptable".
The Pendlebury branch of the Labour Party voted on Wednesday to send a motion to the National Executive Committee calling on Ms Blears to be deselected as MP ahead of the next election.
A Labour source said Ms Blears's political future was "in the balance".
Reader views (24)
İs it me ? or does anyone remember the munchkins? Ms Bl ears whats that all about?
- Steve, Turkey 4 now
I LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY TO THIS HYPOCRITE YESTERDAY.
MEDDLESUM DEFINITELY FORCED HER TO MAKE THE PATHETIC, GROVELLING APOLOGY.
MORE SPIN AND WAFFLE.
GET LOST WOMAN.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK
You cannot have weak indecisive people like her in government. Good bye!!
- Keith Margin, Glasgow Scotland
Nah, the regret is that she sees the other serial offenders being reappointed and standing in line for the further time at the trough, that she misses so much.
Now she has to spend some of her own money, for a change.
- Hugh, Middx
Good riddance to you and the other lot WILL be gone come elction time!
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London
SHE DID NOT HALF MISS TIMING HER SACKING OH I MEAN RESIGNING SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE IT THE DAY SHE WAS GIVEN THE JOB SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN HOPELESS BUT THEN AGAIN AS THEY SAY SHE IS DAFT THE RIGHT WAY SHE HAS LINED HER POCKETS WELL AND TRULY AND TOOK US ALL FOR MUGS SHE HAS THE MONEY AND WE DONT AND SHE GOT AWAY WITH IT HOWS THAT FOR DEMORACY THE MIND BOGGLES,
- James Fennessey, london
Pathetic
- Stuart, London
Of course, you were not pressured by the Prince of Darkness to come out with this drivel were you?
- David Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
Whatever Chuckee .... get back on your motorbike and clear off ...
- Pete, N1
Her arrogance mirrors that of the Labour administration in implying her resignation influenced voter's intentions. I hope the electorate in Salford give her a very pointed message that it is Brown's inept government that influenced the voting intentions by removing her as their MP when the general election comes around.
- Bingham Macnamara, lymington, hampshire
Wassup? Did her cheque bounce?
- Paul, London
She is only sorry her little plan didn't result in Gordon Brown having to resign - had it worked she would not doubt have expected a ministerial place of the cabinet of Brown's successor for her part in his downfall. She is, and always has been, a nasty piece of work. She like Blair have generally not acted in the best interests of their constituents or the Labour Party but only looked out for their own self interests.
The minute she is out of politics the better it will be for everyone.
- Andy, London
Most of us are glad, NOW SOD OFF, AND KEEP QUIET.
- P Staker, LONDON
Who gives a tinkers?! And please, please, PLEASE stop publishing her photo - I know it could lose an election campaign on it's own, but it really turns the milk in my tea sour!
- Roz, France
I do not think anybody is the slightest bit interested in this 'irrelevant northern constituency has been'. Just go away to Salford !!
- Nick Holland, glasgow
If she didn't want to cause maximum damage, what was she doing wearing that 'rock the boat' badge?? She thought she'd get public sympathy but instead she got the opposite and now she's grovelling in a last ditch attempt. Good riddance.
- Jc, London
This woman needs to take a long look in the mirror and ask herself "is my recent behaviour - including my motivation for this interview - the real reason I went into politics?" If the answer is yes, she desereves all she gets. If the answer is no, and I hope for her sake it is, she should resign immediately. By-election or not, she'll one day have to explain herself to her grandchildren, and she needs to start her personal (private) salvation sooner rather than later.
- Jimbob, London, E1
If she cant get a very simple decision like that right what was she doing in Government anyway. Totally sums up the calibre of the typical carrer politician I guess. In it for themselves and to hell with everyone else. Well at least thats the picture they portray. Are the really intelligent people or are they like every thing these days just perception no substances whatsoever. Brian Rix could not have written or performed in a better farce!!! God help us all because politicians wont that is very clear!!!
- Pedro, Dubai UAE
Will this bloody women never just go away.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
It is clear to me that Blears thought the knives would be out for Brown and that she would pick up a nice portfolio under a new leader.
As if anyone is going to believe her now when she says she regrets being disloyal. She really has no idea!
- Ian Gilbertson, Newcastle
Of course she's sorry - she's sorry she's lost her ministerial salary and all her perks.
- Charlie, London
why should we not be surprised at yet another example of Ms Blears' total dishonesty? What I really object to is her assumption that we are all brainless fools who will be taken in by her. Amazing how many examples of "bad judgement" we have seen from someone in charge of a govt. dept. all she has proved is that she is not fit to serve.
- Diane Jackson, Sale cheshire uk
The electorate regret it too - she should have gone years ago.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
And what about the brooch she wore, containing the slogan "rocking the boat", with a picture showing what appeared to be a shipwreck???
What a spiteful little pixie!
- Haskey, London SE1
