This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6673719.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Labour candidates face hustings | Labour candidates face hustings |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The candidates for the Labour Party's deputy leadership are going head to head at a hustings event. | |
| The six hopefuls are facing off at a session in Coventry. | |
| Gordon Brown, who is to take over as Prime Minister on June 27, will tour a factory near Coventry before speaking at the hustings. | Gordon Brown, who is to take over as Prime Minister on June 27, will tour a factory near Coventry before speaking at the hustings. |
| Earlier Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain told GMTV a gap "had opened up" between the government and Labour's grassroots members. | |
| The six candidates are Mr Hain, Education Secretary Alan Johnson, Justice Minister Harriet Harman, Development Secretary Hilary Benn, party chairwoman Hazel Blears, and backbencher Jon Cruddas. | The six candidates are Mr Hain, Education Secretary Alan Johnson, Justice Minister Harriet Harman, Development Secretary Hilary Benn, party chairwoman Hazel Blears, and backbencher Jon Cruddas. |
| Mr Hain said: "There's been a gap opened up between the government and the grassroots members, trade unionists and backbench MPs, and you've seen that in the divisions on the floor of the House of Commons. | Mr Hain said: "There's been a gap opened up between the government and the grassroots members, trade unionists and backbench MPs, and you've seen that in the divisions on the floor of the House of Commons. |
| "I think the deputy leader's role is absolutely vital in reconnecting the government with the grassroots and being the umbilical cord between the government, the cabinet and the grassroots of the party." | "I think the deputy leader's role is absolutely vital in reconnecting the government with the grassroots and being the umbilical cord between the government, the cabinet and the grassroots of the party." |
| 'Get message out' | 'Get message out' |
| Labour Party chairman Hazel Blears told the BBC's Sunday AM programme said she was prepared to deal with "tough issues". | Labour Party chairman Hazel Blears told the BBC's Sunday AM programme said she was prepared to deal with "tough issues". |
| "I believe the job of deputy leader is about working for the party, taking the message out relentlessly over the next two years, full-time, focused on building the party and winning the next election," she said. | "I believe the job of deputy leader is about working for the party, taking the message out relentlessly over the next two years, full-time, focused on building the party and winning the next election," she said. |
| "I am prepared to talk about some of the tough issues. I spent three years in the Home Office doing crime, anti-social behaviour and counter-terrorism and I think people want us to tackle immigration, they want us to tackle crime. | "I am prepared to talk about some of the tough issues. I spent three years in the Home Office doing crime, anti-social behaviour and counter-terrorism and I think people want us to tackle immigration, they want us to tackle crime. |
| "I think people now work harder than probably they've ever worked before, and they're prepared to do that but they want to know that the system is fair as well." | "I think people now work harder than probably they've ever worked before, and they're prepared to do that but they want to know that the system is fair as well." |