Government faces more Trident resignations
More resignations over Trident will damage Tony Blair's leadership
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Sunday, 11, Mar 2007 07:53
Two more ministers are set to resign over the government's forthcoming vote on Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent.
It emerged yesterday that ministerial aide Jim Devine would quit his junior government post over this Wednesday's crunch vote on reaffirming the UK's commitment to Trident.
Now it appears Labour party chairwoman Hazel Blears' parliamentary private secretary, Stephen Pound, is also set to resign over the issue.
The Sunday Herald newspaper also reports a more senior level resignation. Nigel Griffiths, deputy leader of the House of Commons, told a meeting of his Edinburgh constituents that he would quit over Trident, the paper said.
Meanwhile Labour leadership contender Michael Meacher has led attacks on the government from the backbenches.
"By fixing the vote in the Commons next Wednesday, No. 10 is bouncing parliament into a momentous decision years before expert opinion says that is necessary," he commented.
A poll conducted by the BBC, released today, suggests that a major backbench rebellion could be on the cards.
Of the 101 Labour MPs who responded to the survey just 22 said they would be backing their party's official policy, while 64 said they opposed the government's Trident proposals.
Even if prime minister Tony Blair is hit by a major rebellion from within his own party he will not lose the vote, however. The Conservatives have said they will back the government plans.