The very day Blair formally announced his intention to step down as leader of the Labour Party, an Old Bailey judge sentenced a whistleblower to six months’ imprisonment and issued a gagging order against the media, sending a clear signal
that government secrecy remains strong. Parallel efforts by the government to undermine the two-year old Freedom of Information Act reinforce that message.
“In the area of openness, Tony Blair’s project of modernising government has failed. The much heralded Freedom of Information Act is far less progressive than those of countries like Mexico, …

Trimdon Labour Club, Sedgefield
Monday 10 May 2007
It’s a great privilege to be here with you again today and to thank all of you too for such a wonderful and warm welcome.
I’d just like to say also if I might and just a special word of thanks to John Burton. John has been my agent here for many years now. He’s still the …

LABOUR GOVERNMENT plans to deny asylum seekers access to healthcare are in disarray as almost the entire health profession signal their opposition.
At risk: asylum seekers to be denied NHS treatmentBlink has discovered that on the final day of the Department of Health consultation a host of medical bodies have come out against the plans which many believe will turn NHS staff into ‘immigration officers.’
Opposition includes Royal College of General Practitioners, the Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association, and the Medical Practitioners Union.
Campaigners such as the …

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE TAKEN BEFORE THE LIAISON COMMITTEE FROM THE PRIME MINISTER – RT HON TONY BLAIR MP – July 6 2004
Evidence heard in Public Questions 144 – 288
NOTE:
1. This is an uncorrected transcript of evidence taken in public and reported to the House.
2. Any public use of, or reference to, the contents should make clear that neither witnesses nor Members have had the opportunity to correct the record. The transcript is not yet an approved formal record of these proceedings.
3. Members who receive this for the purpose of …

The text of prime minister Tony Blair’s speech opening Tuesday’s debate on the Iraq crisis in the house of Commons, as released by 10 Downing Street.

Robin Cook, former UK foreign secretary and leader of the House of Commons, made a personal statement in parliament following his resignation on Monday.
On Tuesday night Cook won an unprecedented standing ovation after he called on MPs to reject Blair’s call for the use of “any means necessary” to disarm Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
The following is the full text of his speech: