respect
26-04-2005, 10:15 AM
Long-time Labour backbencher Brian Sedgemore has defected to the Lib Dems.
Mr Sedgemore, who spent 27 years as a Labour MP, accused Tony Blair of "stomach turning lies".
He said he wanted to give the Labour leader a "bloody nose" at the polls but Mr Blair argued voters were interested in policies.
"They aren't particularly interested in someone they have never heard of who's not even standing as a candidate at the general election," said Mr Blair.
Is it any wonder I urge everyone from the centre and left in British politics to give Blair a bloody nose at the election?
Brian Sedgemore,
defecting ex-Labour MP
Labour tried to shrug off the defection and concentrate on education. The Conservatives renewed their calls for action against hospital superbugs.
Mr Sedgemore, who is standing down at this election, voted against the government over anti-terror laws, top-up fees and foundation hospitals during the last Parliament.
He claimed other Labour MPs from the last Parliament were planning to leave the party, though not join the Lib Dems.
He refused to give any names and said some of the potential defectors were not standing for re-election.
At a news conference with Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy, Mr Sedgemore accused Mr Blair of ditching key liberal principles.
Government plans to allow house arrest for terror suspects had been the final straw for him, he said.
"I urge everyone from the centre and left of British politics to give Blair a bloody nose at the election and to vote for the Lib Dems in recognition of the fact that the tawdry New Labour project is dead," he said.
HAVE YOUR SAY
The voice of the elected individuals must be heard over the grindings of the party machines
Chris, Mansfield, UK
"The Tories have no chance of winning the election so the bogeyman Howard argument is just an Aunt Sally, easily put up and more easily knocked down."
Labour has warned people moving to the Lib Dems they could let the Conservatives "walk in through the back door".
Mr Sedgemore was first elected to the Commons in February 1974, to represent Luton West.
He lost his seat in 1979 but returned in 1983 as MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch.
'Principled stand'
Mr Kennedy said the former Labour MP had "voted with the Liberal Democrats on many of the big issues of the day" during the last Parliament.
"It is therefore not surprising that he finds himself at this election in greater sympathy with Liberal Democrat policies rather than those of Tony Blair's Labour Party," said Mr Kennedy.
Mr Kennedy said Mr Sedgemore gave a strong message that the Lib Dems were the only party to take principled stands on Iraq, tuition fees and civil liberties.
Asked if the defection showed the Lib Dems were the left-wing voting option, Mr Kennedy said his party had stuck by its principles while others had moved.
Mr Blair and Education Secretary Ruth Kelly visited a south London school to highlight plans to increase spending per pupil to £5,500 by 2008, up from £2,500 in 1997.
The Labour leader said he wanted quality education for all while the Conservatives wanted it only for those at the top.
The Tories instead argue they want to offer more school choice to all parents.
Mr Sedgemore, who spent 27 years as a Labour MP, accused Tony Blair of "stomach turning lies".
He said he wanted to give the Labour leader a "bloody nose" at the polls but Mr Blair argued voters were interested in policies.
"They aren't particularly interested in someone they have never heard of who's not even standing as a candidate at the general election," said Mr Blair.
Is it any wonder I urge everyone from the centre and left in British politics to give Blair a bloody nose at the election?
Brian Sedgemore,
defecting ex-Labour MP
Labour tried to shrug off the defection and concentrate on education. The Conservatives renewed their calls for action against hospital superbugs.
Mr Sedgemore, who is standing down at this election, voted against the government over anti-terror laws, top-up fees and foundation hospitals during the last Parliament.
He claimed other Labour MPs from the last Parliament were planning to leave the party, though not join the Lib Dems.
He refused to give any names and said some of the potential defectors were not standing for re-election.
At a news conference with Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy, Mr Sedgemore accused Mr Blair of ditching key liberal principles.
Government plans to allow house arrest for terror suspects had been the final straw for him, he said.
"I urge everyone from the centre and left of British politics to give Blair a bloody nose at the election and to vote for the Lib Dems in recognition of the fact that the tawdry New Labour project is dead," he said.
HAVE YOUR SAY
The voice of the elected individuals must be heard over the grindings of the party machines
Chris, Mansfield, UK
"The Tories have no chance of winning the election so the bogeyman Howard argument is just an Aunt Sally, easily put up and more easily knocked down."
Labour has warned people moving to the Lib Dems they could let the Conservatives "walk in through the back door".
Mr Sedgemore was first elected to the Commons in February 1974, to represent Luton West.
He lost his seat in 1979 but returned in 1983 as MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch.
'Principled stand'
Mr Kennedy said the former Labour MP had "voted with the Liberal Democrats on many of the big issues of the day" during the last Parliament.
"It is therefore not surprising that he finds himself at this election in greater sympathy with Liberal Democrat policies rather than those of Tony Blair's Labour Party," said Mr Kennedy.
Mr Kennedy said Mr Sedgemore gave a strong message that the Lib Dems were the only party to take principled stands on Iraq, tuition fees and civil liberties.
Asked if the defection showed the Lib Dems were the left-wing voting option, Mr Kennedy said his party had stuck by its principles while others had moved.
Mr Blair and Education Secretary Ruth Kelly visited a south London school to highlight plans to increase spending per pupil to £5,500 by 2008, up from £2,500 in 1997.
The Labour leader said he wanted quality education for all while the Conservatives wanted it only for those at the top.
The Tories instead argue they want to offer more school choice to all parents.