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Labour is in danger of losing the electorally vital battle for the North and shedding "aspiring" voters, says former Communities Secretary Hazel Blears.
Labour is caught in a pincer movement, she adds, between the resurgent Tories and the BNP in some of the marginal northern seats which will play a major role in the next election.
In remarks for Radio 4 documentary Dave's Friends in the North, to be broadcast on Sunday, she said: "The danger is if we're not careful, we lose the aspirational voters on the one hand and the poor people in our communities who are tempted to go to the far Right."
Ms Blears said there had been "an attrition" of Labour "being able to articulate that we stand for everyone in this country...(and) we're not just governing for the bottom 10 per cent".
Asked if she thought Gordon Brown was aware of the problem, she said: "I know he is. I've talked to him about it."
Ms Blears made clear she intends to fight her Salford seat at the election, however polling in key areas of the North-West by Ipsos-Mori shows that in some the Tories have a greater lead than in the country as a whole.
Reader views (25)
Have any of the comment-leavers here ever left the M25 belt. It's hilarious how ignorant and London-centric they are. You know there is a world outside the insular city - oh and the people are far friendlier too! No "pull the ladder up Jack I'm alright", shut the curtains lark. But then what did you expect from people viciously opposed to the Tories. Community. There's a word to learn Londoners.
- Gj, Mids, 08/07/2009 17:14
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I'm Labour and always have been but that Blears is a major reason for people not voting Labour, I would certainly not vote for her. All we heard from her when she used to regularly pop up on the TV or Radio was that she was taking the 'Tough Decisions', well heres one 'Tough Decision' she could take, stand down as an MP let your area select another candidate who will give Labour a fighting chance.
- Tim, Newport, Wales., 04/07/2009 11:24
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I wonder what she can mean "The danger is if we're not careful, we lose the aspirational voters on the one hand and the poor people in our communities who are tempted to go to the far Right."
They have already lost not just the aspirational voters and the poor people, they have also lost everyone else who has more than one brain cell. Everyone with a single grain of intelligence, has seen through Labours Lies and spin. Very few people now believe a single word that a Labour MP or Labour party member utters.
- Syd, Nottingham, ENGLAND, 03/07/2009 17:56
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the comments have got it right-but Blears is just a Tory opposition sleeper who just keeps giving them percentages in the opinion polls-she must have the goods on someone to still be a Labour MP
- Will, canterbury uk, 03/07/2009 17:50
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and blears has nothing to do with it ?
it is the outrageous behaviour of herself and her
peers,their self serving greed, hypocrisy
and general ineptness in public office that have
created the disallusionment and desperation.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 03/07/2009 17:00
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Forget Blears - what about the "dreadful pair", Cooper-Balls, up there in gloomy Yorkshire? God help us all if New Labour screw us again at the next General Election.
- Ted, London, 03/07/2009 15:38
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There is the same family line mentality that continues to support the lunatic communists of Labour here in Wales as in the north, despite the enormous damage and ruination incompetent Labour have done to the NHS and the economy.
Their subservient aquiescence to the EUSSR and Labour's deliberate policy of using unwanted and unrequired mass immigration to dilute, demoralise and ultimately destroy the British as a race, is still met with the soul destroying moronity of 'My grandfather voted Labour, my father voted Labour, so I....Blah blah blah'.
These numpties need a diversification of perspective and quickly too! Exactly what does it take some died in the wool Labour supporters to realise that they are voting for their own extinction?
- Jerome Peter, Bridgend, 03/07/2009 13:20
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who cares what this dreadful liitle creep thinks. And who cares about the Northeners, workshy, bigoted, whippet botherers for the most part, or is that just Yorkshire?
- Kerry, purley, 03/07/2009 13:16
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I love the north and London too, dividing my time between the two but we all deserve better than Labour regardless of where we're from.
I'd dearly love to contribute to the downfall of Labour at the next election, unfortunately I cannot usefully do so here in Durham for precisely the reason stated by Steve, London. If I vote Conservative that just increases the margin by which Labour beat the Lib Dem's here.
There is virtually nothing Labour could do to cause voters to switch to another party, the majority of constituents will blindly vote for them regardless.
- Michael, Durham, UK, 03/07/2009 12:18
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Blears and her like are the reason ZnNuLabour are in the mess there in, crooks, thieves, fraudsters and yellow streaked they are nothing but a bunch of self serving freeloaders who deserve to be thrown out at the next election. Her own yellow streaked Labour politburo may have decided to keep her in place but the people of Salford will hopefully show her exactly what they think of her pilfering ways and show her the door!
- Ed, Hants, 03/07/2009 12:04
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Neil what a load of rubbish in your comment with out the north london would not be here
paddy built london while you silly cockneys were walking round in stupid pearley coats sucking on jelled ells from the thames that eat human waste
- Terry Chambers, London, 03/07/2009 11:57
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Of course 'Liarbore' and 'McRuin' and 'Mr Meddlesome' will loose their traditional support in the North. People there have at last woken up to the fact that 'Liarbore' no longer represents traditional Labour ideals. Of course there is not much of a choice, but who knows, votors may switch to the Lib-Dems or even the Conservatives.
Even the most diehard Labour supporters must realise that the current bunch of Muppets are no longer worth saving.
- Uncle Vanya De Caesaromagus, East Anglia Area UK, 03/07/2009 11:56
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Problem is that when Labour supporters desert Labour they usually turn to the next most socialist party around- the BNP.
Even McClown is now adopting BNP phrases. 'British jobs for British Workers'. 'No non-locals for council houses'. What other BNP policies will he steal next? Of course we all know he's lying and nothing will change but it's clear he fears losing his members to the BNP alright.
Labours manifest awfulness, mendacity and complete inability to run even a whelk stall could radically change the political landscape and that may not be for the better.
- Ethan, UK, 03/07/2009 11:24
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Get lost "chucky" Blears,-go back to the midget farm and play with your money.
- Jacob, Canterbury England, 03/07/2009 11:10
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They will lose the North if constituency parties continue to field candidates like her.
- Roy Grainger, London, 03/07/2009 11:08
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The political correct Labour party abandoned the white working classes and they are getting payback long overdue.
- Joe, Swanley Kent, 03/07/2009 11:02
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Perhaps they have finally woken up to the fact that most Labour MPs are crooks.Ms Blears being a prime example as her record shows.
- Realist, newport england, 03/07/2009 10:52
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Luckily the SNP will gain the support of the once stalwart Labour voters in Scotland.However,the north of England folk are of the mentality 'We've always been labour in our family,always will be.'
They're the ones that let this country down by sticking to tradition while the south of England suffer with Labours mass immigration policy.
- Steve, London, 03/07/2009 10:43
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Neil Yates, of London,I think you'll find that the majority of the North are more accomplished than you are, with yur outdated, bias and stereotypical views. Also, She is a very good MP, and has it has been proved she didn't steal any money, and she paid that £13000 unnecessarily.
- Jonathan Newman, Mancgester, UK, 03/07/2009 10:41
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They wish it is just the north.
- Jerry, Chiswick, 03/07/2009 10:31
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Is this odious woman still about?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 03/07/2009 10:22
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Hazel Blears' lack of decency, honesty and integrity are sure to guarantee that labour will lose in the north (and south, east and west). I look forward to seeing the smirk being wiped off her face when she is kicked out at the next election.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 03/07/2009 10:18
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And what part has Ms Blears played in this downfall? Might have something to do with her 'borrowing' money from the taxpayer!!
- Andy, London, 03/07/2009 10:12
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Who gives a damn about the north? How do they even vote anyway when most of them can't read? Do they have pictures on the ballot paperS?
- Neil Yates, London, UK, 03/07/2009 09:59
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With Labour MPs of Ms Blears integrity and honesty, is it any wonder that Labour will struggle to maintain their vote in the grim northern towns.
- Paddy, Croydon Uk, 03/07/2009 09:24
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