Morning:
8°c
Was my car trashed by angry voters? No, just bored kids, says Blears
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor10 Aug 2009
Former Cabinet minister Hazel Blears today blamed “kids who were bored” for an attack on her car.
The minister, formerly in charge of government anti-social behaviour policies, had the windscreen of her parked grey Citroën Xsara Picasso broken and all four of its tyres slashed as she canvassed voters in Salford yesterday.
But the Salford MP, who came under fire at the height of this year's MPs' expenses scandal, played down the idea that angry voters were to blame for the damage.
“Unfortunately, that is what a lot of people in my constituency have to put up with.”
Asked whether the attack had shaken her, she said: “No, not at all.”
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said that they were called to the scene at 6.25pm yesterday after a report that a car had been damaged. The spokesman added that officers were investigating.
Ms Blears, a former Labour Party chairman and Home Office minister, was criticised after it was revealed that she had failed to pay a tax bill of more than £13,000 on the sale of a flat in London. She subsequently paid the money and resigned as Communities Secretary.
Although she said that her actions had been within the MPs' expenses rules, they were described as “totally unacceptable” by the Prime Minister.
She said subsequently that she “enormously” regretted the timing of her departure.
In June, she defeated a vote of no-confidence inside her constituency Labour Party association.
Reader views (23)
Bored kids who will perhaps vote her out at the next election. There should be no such thing as 'bored kids' - they should be in education or employment and looking forward to their bright future.
- Roz, France, 11/08/2009 09:24
Report abuse
An MP, like the Labour party, in self denial.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 11/08/2009 08:50
Report abuse
"I think it's just kids who were bored"!! I can't ever remember a time when 'boredom' permitted 'kids' to vandalise someone's car. So the bored kids are a product of what? Oh, surprise, surprise....of NuLiebore, courtesy of Ms.Cocky Blears and her gang. No wonder the little wonder-woman took it on the chin, as normal. It is normal under this excuse for a government.
- Judith C, London, England., 10/08/2009 18:09
Report abuse
Everyone here who is saying she deserved to have her car vandalised should be ashamed of themselves - no politician, Labour or Tory should have to put up with stuff like this, egg throwing, custard throwing etc. Would you think it was so funny if it happened to you? What if someone attacked her, would that be funny? I hope those of you with children do not encourage such repellent behaviour with them.
- James, London, 10/08/2009 17:50
Report abuse
NO doubt she will reclaim the damage to her car through the expense system so not to touch her no claims bonus as she was canvasing at the time. What a horrid woman she is!!!!!
- Dangerous Dave, yorkshire, 10/08/2009 16:50
Report abuse
yeah.... well we´ll see about that whether her constituants really have to put up with even more populist bullcrap from this shamelessly unrepentant number 1 top hypocrit, where even western actors have more decency ....
- Abdullah, kandahar afghanistan, 10/08/2009 16:22
Report abuse
Is she really this stupid? She is just a thief and she has the nerve to spin this hoping we will believe it. I loathe her and I am a woman.
- Trisha, EAST CROYDON, 10/08/2009 15:49
Report abuse
Yes because that IS the sort of thing bored kids do.... in Hazel Blears constituancy. Makes you glad to be living under a Labour government dunnit!
- John Billam, United Kingdom, 10/08/2009 15:37
Report abuse
She's not a thief - her actions were 'within the MP's expenses rules', so calling her a thief means calling them all thieves (no arguments there, though).
It's easy to criticise. Everyone over 18 has the vote - and therefore their share of the blame. The Chartists were massacred campaigning for it, and while the Suffragists went through less, they still went through the mill, all so that we could decide who runs our country. If you don't like those in charge, take some responsibility for it and stand against them. If enough people say enough is enough then they'll lose their seats. Slashing tyres and smashing windows is pathetic at best - contest your local constituency and oust the woman. That's what the system is for.
While I agree that Labour leave a lot to be desired, and are running this country into the ground, I fail to see a better option. The BNP are the British Nazi Party, a dictionary definition of a contradiction in terms - the conservatives are just Labour in different suits. Should we all vote UKIP? Green? Both may do us some good, but if you really want things to improve then provide us all with a better option. Slashing tyres? Yeah, that helps. Why don't we all write letters to Labour saying 'We don't like what you're doing, but we're going to do nothing at all about it, so there!'
- Steve, Cheshire, UK, 10/08/2009 15:25
Report abuse
"A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said that they were called to the scene at 6.25pm yesterday after a report that a car had been damaged. The spokesman added that officers were investigating."
I bet if any other resident of Manchester rang the police to report a vandalised car they might just be lucky enough to get a crime number for their insurers. No way would an officer get off his backside long enough to 'investigate'.
- Paul, London, 10/08/2009 15:20
Report abuse
I just can't wait until ALL labour mp's have to go canvassing on doorsteps around the country.
i think they are in for the biggest shock of their pampered lives.
A quick listen in any pub/winebar in london with give you a good idea of peoples opinions.
i think the country is on the verge of a political revolution.
OH A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE , WHEN FIRST WE PRACTICE TO DECEIVE.
IT'S PAYBACK TIME 
MR(REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD) PASTRY
- Mr Pastry, london, 10/08/2009 15:10
Report abuse
No other cars were vandalised. Therefore I assume that the damage was done in retalliation for the outright theft of public money. Hazel Blears is one of the lowest of the New Labour hypocrites. She plays the good old working class girl who is just like you and me. Reality is that she is an actress and a cold blooded, contrived fake. All that said I cannot condone vandalism under any circumstances.
- J Nowland, Leeds, United Kingdom, 10/08/2009 15:09
Report abuse
What is she doing in the car anyway?
and where is the driver?
Definately digruntled voters.
I wouldnt drive around sink hole neighbour hoods anyway. They are full of rubbish people that cant or will not control there kids never mind them elves.
Vandals like this are an utter waste of DNA & a waste of the life long benefits they will be "entitled" too.
- Chester Chris, Chester, 10/08/2009 15:08
Report abuse
If you leave your car unattended in that part of Salford you're asking for trouble. If it's also known that the car is owned by a discredited MP, trouble is more or less inevitable. Hazel Blears is a typical representative of New Labour - shameless, with the hide of a rhino and an ego to match. More's the pity she wasn't around to 'listen to her constituents' when they took their understandable frustration out on her (paid for by expenses no doubt) car.
- David, Sale UK, 10/08/2009 14:46
Report abuse
This is just the start,if MPs do not give the money they stole back,it will not be long before one of them gets more than they believed ever possible.To this stupid woman,we the UK public hate you and your kind,give back the money and lay low.
- David, london, 10/08/2009 14:15
Report abuse
If she was sent to jail, as she should be for fraud, then she would encounter more than a few disgruntled voters.
- Ayliff A Mcnab, Orihuela Costa,, 10/08/2009 13:44
Report abuse
What a smug out of touch and thoroughly nasty woman. Labour in a nutshell!
- Amazonmothe, hasting, 10/08/2009 13:05
Report abuse
I don't think so.You can fool all of the people some of the time,but do not expect us to swallow this little bit of spin.
Is this one of the women that the Harmaniser wants to take over from men?Just another crooked politician,regardless of gender.
- Jimfred, London Uk, 10/08/2009 12:47
Report abuse
This wretched thief is seriously deluding herself if she thinks it was “just “some kids”
- Mel Barrows., Tenerife. Canary Islands., 10/08/2009 12:43
Report abuse
Blears, Mandelson, thats a start now how about the rest?
Is the worm beginning to turn on these crooks? lets hope so.......
- Kedge, wilts, england, 10/08/2009 12:09
Report abuse
"Unfortunately, that is what a lot of people in my constituency have to put up with."
Indeed, and I wonder whos fault it is? After all, tough on "tough crime tough on the causes of crime" is Labour's mantra so it must be someone elses fault mustn't it?
- Bob, Cheam, 10/08/2009 12:04
Report abuse
"I think it is all a bit pathetic really. I think it is just kids who were bored, I don't think there is anything more to it.
You keep believing that you arrogant thief.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 10/08/2009 11:42
Report abuse
All MPs who misappropriated tax payers' money can expect a frosty reception if they go canvassing before the next election. None of them have a hope of being re-elected - and all "second homes", which tax payers have paid for, must be sold and the proceeds returned to the treasury. I do not condone vandalism but fully understand the anger and frustration felt at the slight of Blears canvassing for support when she should be facing a criminal prosecution for fraud. Her arrogance is contemptible.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 10/08/2009 11:41
Report abuse
