Two motions tabled to oust Hoon
TWO motions have been tabled in a bid to oust Geoff Hoon as the Ashfield MP, the Evening Post can reveal.
The former Defence Secretary is set to face a vote of no confidence on Friday at a meeting of the Ashfield Constituency Labour Party.
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Ashfield MP: Geoff Hoon
During the same meeting – which takes place behind closed doors from 7pm – a separate vote is set to be taken to approach Labour's National Executive Committee to select a new candidate for the upcoming general election. The motions have been tabled by two separate branches of the party in Ashfield.
Labour activists are still furious after Mr Hoon and Patricia Hewitt called for a secret ballot over Gordon Brown's leadership.The vote of no confidence alone is not enough to remove the 56-yer-old from his seat, which he has held since 1992. Any decision on his future will be made by the Labour NEC.
One Ashfield Labour source told the Evening Post: "My only slight concern is that it is getting very close to the election.
"If he apologised and really gave a commitment, I think he would be safe because I suspect a lot of members want to really get on with fighting the election."
When the Evening Post telephoned Mr Hoon in London, he said: "I don't particularly want to say anything about it."
When asked if he would apologise, he replied: "No. Is there any reason why I should?"
5 Comments
by Chivers, Kent
Thursday, February 11 2010, 6:10PM
“At last he's going. King Midas in reverse. Everything Jeff "Buff" Hoon touched turned to dust. Amongst the highlights of his career:
When he was the defense secretary he continued to claim that two trailers found in Iraq were mobile weapons laboratories in spite of the fact that weapons inspectors had already leaked to the press that they were nothing of the sort. And he was condemned by an international delegation of European MPs for evading questions about Britain's co-operation with the CIA's so-called 'extraordinary rendition' programme.
When he was the transport minister he gave the official go-ahead for the controversial expansion of Heathrow Airport. Then there was the issue about MP's expenses and "flipping" their homes And so on and on.
I have a friend who says that the cleverest people do not go into politics...”
by jim, waiting to vote red, white and blue
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 12:45PM
“Et tu, Bruté”
by Mr. Sensible, The Real World
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 8:31AM
“Look, I know these activists are upset with him, as they should be, but move on for goodness sake.
It's dead, over, finished, and there is no need to create further divisions that are not there.”
by "Croesus", nottingham
Monday, February 08 2010, 11:12PM
“This man is tainted goods.”
by MadBadger, The Sett
Monday, February 08 2010, 9:51PM
“Do an interview with Piers Morgan and start acting all 'emotional' over a 'heartfelt' subject.
Works wonders!”