Date: 6th September 2006
Released by: ANDREW TURNER

As speculation about the date of Tony Blair’s departure from Downing Street reaches fever pitch Andrew Turner, the Island’s MP has spoken out saying that this is not just an internal battle for heart of the Labour Party. Mr Turner claims that the prospect of Mr Blair continuing as Prime Minister when he has lost the respect and support of much of his own party leaves the United Kingdom vulnerable at a critical time.

Mr Turner said

“The future of the Prime Minister is being presented merely as an internal squabble within the Labour Party but our country is in desperate need of strong and effective leadership. We have troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorist threats from Moslem extremists, and at home immigration is out of control, the National Health Service is in financial meltdown and people are worried about rising crime rates. Ministers who are apprehensive about their own futures are unlikely to apply themselves fully to dealing with these and so many other problems.

“The position of the Prime Minister is bigger than any one individual. The Conservative Party is well aware of the disruptive influence of leadership turmoil – but the Labour Party is in Government and their primary concern should be running the country. There are those that say that for Mr Blair to continue as a lame duck prime minister would be to the advantage of opposition parties – but for the sake of the United Kingdom this issue needs to be resolved as quickly as possible. It is the Prime Minister’s duty to do so.”

END

Contact: Andrew Turner 01983 530808