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Tom Watson quits as Labour election campaign chief Tom Watson quits as Labour election campaign chief
(35 minutes later)
Labour's Tom Watson has resigned from his shadow cabinet role as the party's general election co-ordinator.Labour's Tom Watson has resigned from his shadow cabinet role as the party's general election co-ordinator.
The West Bromwich East MP has been embroiled in a row about candidate selection in Falkirk.The West Bromwich East MP has been embroiled in a row about candidate selection in Falkirk.
Mr Watson wrote that it was better for the "future unity" of the Labour Party that he resigned.Mr Watson wrote that it was better for the "future unity" of the Labour Party that he resigned.
The MP, known for pursuing phone hacking allegations, said he wanted to speak out from the backbenches on issues of personal interest.The MP, known for pursuing phone hacking allegations, said he wanted to speak out from the backbenches on issues of personal interest.
He said he had offered to resign on Tuesday and been asked to reconsider by party leader Ed Miliband, but now felt it was better for the party to "go now". He said he had offered to resign on Tuesday and been asked to reconsider by party leader Ed Miliband, but had decided it was better for the party to "go now".
Mr Watson has become the first casualty of the Falkirk row, BBC deputy political editor James Landale said.Mr Watson has become the first casualty of the Falkirk row, BBC deputy political editor James Landale said.
Not forgivenNot forgiven
The row broke out over the seat being vacated by Labour's Eric Joyce - the Unite union has been accused of hijacking the process to select a new candidate to replace him, and Mr Watson's office manager was the union's preferred candidate.The row broke out over the seat being vacated by Labour's Eric Joyce - the Unite union has been accused of hijacking the process to select a new candidate to replace him, and Mr Watson's office manager was the union's preferred candidate.
In his letter to Labour leader Ed Miliband, Mr Watson said he was not quitting because of "unattributed shadow cabinet briefings around the mess in Falkirk... though they don't help".In his letter to Labour leader Ed Miliband, Mr Watson said he was not quitting because of "unattributed shadow cabinet briefings around the mess in Falkirk... though they don't help".
He said some within the party had still not forgiven him for resigning as defence minister in 2006 - when, as a close ally of Gordon Brown, he called for then PM Tony Blair to resign, hastening his departure from office.He said some within the party had still not forgiven him for resigning as defence minister in 2006 - when, as a close ally of Gordon Brown, he called for then PM Tony Blair to resign, hastening his departure from office.
But in his letter he said: "I fully accept the consequences of that decision and genuinely hope my departure allows the party to move on." In his letter he said: "I fully accept the consequences of that decision and genuinely hope my departure allows the party to move on."
He added that he wanted to speak out on areas of personal interest, such as the surveillance state, drones, child abuse inquiries, and the aftermath of the phone hacking scandal.He added that he wanted to speak out on areas of personal interest, such as the surveillance state, drones, child abuse inquiries, and the aftermath of the phone hacking scandal.
'Loyal servant'
And in a tongue-in-cheek paragraph aimed at stopping journalists from "misconstruing" his resignation, he told Mr Miliband: "Let me say this: I'm proud of your Buddha-like qualities of patience, deep thought, compassion and resolve.And in a tongue-in-cheek paragraph aimed at stopping journalists from "misconstruing" his resignation, he told Mr Miliband: "Let me say this: I'm proud of your Buddha-like qualities of patience, deep thought, compassion and resolve.
"I remain your loyal servant. I'll always be on hand to help you if you need me. I just don't think you need me in the Shadow Cabinet any more. "I remain your loyal servant. I'll always be on hand to help you if you need me. I just don't think you need me in the shadow cabinet any more.
"After nearly 30 years of this, I feel like I've seen the merry-go-round turn too many times. Whereas the shadow cabinet's for people who still want to get dizzy.""After nearly 30 years of this, I feel like I've seen the merry-go-round turn too many times. Whereas the shadow cabinet's for people who still want to get dizzy."
The full text of his letter of resignation was published on Mr Watson's website.The full text of his letter of resignation was published on Mr Watson's website.
At this week's Prime Minister's Questions, David Cameron repeatedly raised the row between Labour and Unite over Falkirk to try to portray Mr Miliband as a weak leader under the influence of the union - one of Labour's biggest backers.At this week's Prime Minister's Questions, David Cameron repeatedly raised the row between Labour and Unite over Falkirk to try to portray Mr Miliband as a weak leader under the influence of the union - one of Labour's biggest backers.
'No confidence'
Briefing notes for Mr Miliband, accidentally left in a House of Commons toilet on Wednesday, show he was ready for an attack on Mr Watson - although in the event, Mr Cameron did not mention the MP.Briefing notes for Mr Miliband, accidentally left in a House of Commons toilet on Wednesday, show he was ready for an attack on Mr Watson - although in the event, Mr Cameron did not mention the MP.
On Thursday, Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps continued Mr Cameron's theme: "This is a clear vote of no confidence in Ed Miliband's weak leadership from the man he brought in to run his campaign. But this still doesn't change the fact that Len McCluskey's Unite union is taking over the Labour Party."
Labour officials have now taken charge of the selection process in Falkirk for the 2015 general election, following claims that Unite had encouraged its members to join Labour in order to lend their support to the union's preferred candidate.Labour officials have now taken charge of the selection process in Falkirk for the 2015 general election, following claims that Unite had encouraged its members to join Labour in order to lend their support to the union's preferred candidate.
Now only those who were party members by March 2012 can take part in the vote.Now only those who were party members by March 2012 can take part in the vote.