((
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...considered-resigning-in-wake-of-Iraq-war.html
Having come across this article; I saw fit to make the POD that Blair does indeed resign over Iraq in February 2004.))
BBC News 24
Blair quits in wake of Iraq madness
February 10th 2004
The Prime Minister, Tony Blair has announced that he will resign as Prime Minister pending the election of a successor. In the shock announcement outside Downing Street this morning; Mr Blair spoke of his achievements since becoming Prime Minister seven years ago but blamed the increasing chaos in Iraq for his resignation; stating that he could no longer be tormented by what has happened in the country.
Government insiders believe that Mr Blair has been suffering from stress ever since the deaths of many soldiers earlier this year. Insiders also state that his close allies including Peter Mandelson and wife Cherie attempted to talk him out resignation but he shirked off their arguments. While the extent of Mr Blair’s stress is unknown; parliamentary colleagues indicate that Mr Blair has frequently appeared “spaced out” during Commons debates about Iraq and that his resolution to the war a year ago has depleted completely. His resignation comes as a blow to the coalition in Iraq, especially for that of President Bush who faces a tough re-election battle this year.
There had been a resignation threat last November by Mr Blair after one of his many arguments with his Chancellor; at the time Blair denied all rumours of that; but only three months later he has finally walked from Number 10. With a little over two years until another general election must be held, whoever succeeds Mr Blair will have a tough job on their hands. Leading candidates include Chancellor Gordon Brown, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Education Secretary Charles Clarke and Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett. It is believed that Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will not run and choose to remain as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
Political allies and opponents of Blair came together to praise his record in office; among them former Health Secretary Alan Milburn; who could make a political comeback having stepped down from the Cabinet last year. Also in the frame is former Cabinet Minister Robin Cook who resigned over Iraq last year and some disenfranchised backbench MP’s would like to see a Prime Minister who will stand up to the US on Iraq.
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"Tony's resignation was one that came as an immense shock and joy to us especially. Deep down I knew that when I was elected Leader in November 2003, I had little chance of defeating such a popular Premier. Even the bloody mess of Iraq had failed to topple him, but I remember the day of February 10th 2004 well; I was in Surrey attending a policy speech being made by Theresa May on the future of rural affairs. The shrills of mobile telephones ringing and someone shouting "Turn on the news, Blair's gone" filled me with a sense of disbelief and joy. Of course, we'd need to praise him at some point before he left for good; but for the first time in my tenure as Leader, I had a good feeling of winning the next election."
- Extract from the diaries of Michael Howard, February 2004.
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CNN
Kerry projected to win Tennessee and Virginia primaries
February 10th 2004
Senator John Kerry (D-MA) has further added to his building momentum in the Democratic presidential primaries after CNN projected that he had won both primaries by resounding margins against John Edwards and Wesley Clark. This will certainly see a further build in the primaries for Senator Kerry and many political analysts predict that he will become the presumptive Democratic nominee at the end of the month following a sweep of recent wins in Michigan, Washington and Maine. Spokesmen for the Edwards and Clark campaigns had no comment on rumours that their candidates will stand down in favour of Kerry.
Polls at the moment suggest that President Bush has a narrow 2% lead over Kerry in national polls; however with the resignation of British Prime Minister Tony Blair a few hours ago; many in America will now start to question the Bush administration on Iraq.
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Labour Leadership Election set for Sunday 21st of February at special spring conference in Manchester.
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"I am declaring my candidacy for Leader of the Labour Party; for a safer, a fairer and more equal Britain" - Chancellor Gordon Brown's declaration at a press conference on February 11th 2004.
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"I will stand for Leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister because I want to continue the great policies and changes our administration has achieved so far." - Margaret Beckett's declaration in the Houses of Parliament on February 11th 2004.