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Jack Straw puts the boot in

Posted July 29th, 2006 by Davide Simonetti
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Tony Blair's sycophantic fawning over George Bush and his policy of putting a torch to the Middle East is causing more repercussions in the Labour party. That Blair doesn't seem to think that Israel's response to Hezbollah is disproportionate is unsurprising. What is surprising is that no one has put the question to Blair that directly and so allowing him to avoid this aspect of the issue. This might be about to change. It is not just the usual suspects on the backbenches who are expressing alarm at Blair's stance.

Ministers are growing increasingly concerned about the government's approach to the conflict in Lebanon, as normally loyal MPs warn that Britain is damaging its international standing.

Cabinet members feel the tone of government pronouncements is making it look indifferent to the suffering of Lebanese civilians, and senior backbenchers are openly critical of Tony Blair's stance. "We could do with sounding a little bit more like Kim [Howells] and a little less like Condi [Rice]," said one minister.

Foreign office minister Mr Howells has repeatedly called for Israel to show "proportionality and restraint", while the foreign secretary and prime minister have refused to condemn its actions.

Greg Pope, a Blairite and member of the Commons foreign affairs committee, told the Guardian that there was widespread dismay that the government had not called for an immediate ceasefire.

"Tony has misjudged [this issue], and is leaving us isolated among European countries and at home," he said.

This is bad enough for Blair but now the former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, another loyal Blairite, has weighed into the argument and criticised the Prime Minister.

FORMER Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today issued a strong warning that Israeli attacks on Lebanon were making the situation in the Middle East worse.

As Tony Blair flew out to Washington for talks with George Bush, the Commons Leader became the first UK Cabinet Minister to label the Israeli military action as "disproportionate".

He made clear the continuing assault risked destroying the Lebanese government and opening up the Middle East to further terrorism.

Of course the fact that he lost his job in May on the orders of Bush in a cabinet reshuffle shortly after making comments about an attack on Iran being "inconceivable" and "completely nuts" might have some bearing on the matter. Another reason for him to break ranks with Blair might be the large Muslim population in his constituency of Blackburn and some opportunistic repositioning in anticipation of Blair's departure. As the conflict continues to escalate an attack on Iran is less inconceivable than previously thought.

However, the real Achilles' heel of the Blair Government has not been the Home Office. It has been foreign policy and in particular the Iraq war. Most specifically, the subservient relationship with George Bush has been the real cause of Tony Blair's downfall. It is at this Achilles' heel that Jack Straw, the only witness to the humiliations and betrayals heaped on Mr Blair by the White House, could at any moment aim his poisoned dart. Whether or not Mr Straw decides to deliver the death blow will probably depend on whether the Bush Administration attacks Iran before Mr Blair retires. If Mr Bush decides to bomb Iran, either directly or using Israel as a proxy, Mr Blair will either have to dissociate himself publicly from this vigilante action or face immediate political assassination, with Mr Straw delivering the mortal wound.

I wonder who will be next to abandon Blair's sinking ship.

Of course, the post could

On July 29th, 2006 ringverse says:

Of course, the post could have been entitled:

"Jack Straw Launches his Labour Leadership Campaign"...;)

On Planet Jack, anyway...

I think it's simpler than

On July 30th, 2006 Andy Ramblings says:

I think it's simpler than that, Jack constituency is predominately muslim, so he is basically trying to protect his own political arse. Or he is simply doing the Margaret Beckett.. Diverting the main media away from Blair.

ah yes the man that said

On August 3rd, 2006 Anonymous (not verified) says:

ah yes the man that said lets make the intel fit the policy as he led us into war shoulder to shoulder.

probably still angry over being jilted ...