Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Wednesday, May 18, 2005 |
| International | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | International
Hasan Suroor
LONDON: The Queen on Tuesday unveiled the priorities of the Labour Government's third term even as dissident party MPs threatened to sabotage Prime Minister Tony Blair's key policy reforms in a bid to force him out of office. At a ceremonial opening of Parliament, the Queen read out the Government's agenda which has already raised hackles of Labour backbenchers who are particularly opposed to plans to introduce compulsory identity cards and bring in the private sector to reform public services. Rebel backbenchers warned that they would not give Mr. Blair an easy ride on policies which smacked of "marketisation'' of public services or posed a threat to civil liberties. "We will be confronting the Government on those issues where we have a genuine ideological difference rather than allowing Tony Blair the opportunity to demonstrate his political virility,'' said Glenda Jackson, a Labour MP and former Minister. Left-wing party MPs stepped up pressure on Mr. Blair to quit insisting that he must set out a time-table for his departure or face a revolt over some of his pet legislative proposals. With a majority of just 67 in the Commons, compared to 161 in the last Parliament, the Government does not have the luxury of ignoring the rebels whose number is already said to exceed the minimum needed to unite with the Opposition to block a legislation.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2005, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
