BBC : Blair voters 'turning to Cameron'

Blair voters 'turning to Cameron'

August 26, 2006

Europe minister Geoff Hoon has said voters are starting to see the Conservative leader, David Cameron, as a serious alternative to Tony Blair.

He admitted that, after nine years in government, people were thinking there might be something better than Labour.

Mr Hoon was speaking as the prime minister returned to Downing Street after his holiday in Barbados.

Mr Blair is spending the weekend working on a big speech he will give to the TUC annual conference next month.

In it he will address the challenges of globalisation, said a Downing Street spokesman.

"Concerns around security, immigration and community cohesion are issues that the public demand politicians put to the top of their in-trays," he said.

Mr Blair is facing a restless Labour Party, with questions about his plans to leave office hanging over him.

He is also facing new criticism over his handling of the conflict in Lebanon.

Problems

The Liberal Democrats said 37 Labour party members in the Derby South constituency of the Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, have defected to them in protest at Mr Blair's policy on Lebanon.

Mr Hoon acknowledged that the government had been going through a difficult period.

He said some voters were now turning to Mr Cameron's Conservative party in a way they did not look at previous Tory leaders.

"There is no doubt in mid-term every government in history - apart actually from the last two Labour governments - has had the same kind of problems that we have seen," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"There are a whole range of issues that lead people to think that, perhaps after a long period in government, there might be an alternative.

"There is no doubt that the Conservative Party looks very different than the one, say, Michael Howard led."

Mr Hoon said it was essential for Labour to demonstrate that it can still come forward with new ideas and policies.

Mr Blair is expected to deflect questions about his future by revealing a number of policy initiatives over the coming weeks.

These will include moves to tackle social exclusion, improve health treatment and raise school standards.

Labour conference

Culture secretary Tessa Jowell said the government's difficulties would not be helped by a change of leader.

She said: "There is undoubtedly a sense of uncertainty and a sense of focus on this issue of the leadership.

"This is very much fed within the Westminster village but it is by no means the overriding issue in the Labour Party."

Mr Blair is facing pressure to outline his departure plans at or before the Labour Party's annual conference in Manchester in September.