HAZEL Blears could face a vote of no confidence from her own constituency party in the wake of the MPs expenses storm.

The Salford Constituency Labour Party is due to meet next month and opposition to Communities Minister Ms Blears is growing.

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Gordon Brown has openly criticised the Salford MP, saying her actions were totally unacceptable after she didn't pay £13,000 tax on the sale of a home. He later said that despite this she had his support.

Five members of Salford Labour Council's 10-strong ruling cabinet are known to be furious at Ms Blears after she didn't pay Capital Gains Tax on the £45,000 profit from the sale of a London flat in 2002.

Her constituency Labour party is scheduled to meet in mid June and the M.E.N understands some of the 40 delegates could force a vote of no confidence.

If the vote goes against her, about 500 constituency members would then be asked to vote on whether Ms Blears should be deselected.

One senior Labour source said: "The constituency party is split right down the middle. There is a strong possibility that Blears will face a vote of no confidence.

"Several big hitters in the party are not impressed and they will have an influence in the wards if it comes to a vote to deselect."

Another source said: "There are people in Swinton who are annoyed and in Langworthy, and Weaste and Seedley."

But the chairman of the CLP, John Cullen, said: "All I can say is that no one has called me or the secretary to request a meeting which discusses deselection. Hazel is willing to attend a question and answer session at the next constituency meeting - she attends all our constituency meetings."

He admitted that one person had called him to complain after he had told the MEN earlier this month that if anyone did raise the issue of a vote of no confidence it would be "instantly dismissed".


Waving that cheque made it worse - that is what really angered people - as if that would put it right.
senior Labour councillor


The CLP has issued a statement on behalf of Mr Cullen, and the secretary, and treasurer saying they had 'full confidence' Ms Blears and she would be their candidate in the next General Election.

Mr Cullen said: "Last week Labour held the seat of Irwell Riverside in a by-election and Hazel was out campaigning. The Labour candidate said that she got a terrific reception.

"I don't doubt that some people are very angry but I have not picked up at any stage a call for a vote of no confidence."

The ruling Labour Group at Salford council, however, issued a statement which, although it did not name Ms Blears, made clear councillors' `dismay and in some cases disgust at the abuse of the system by a minority of MPs'.

Ms Blears later handed over a cheque for more than £13,000 to the taxman.

But one senior Labour councillor said: "Waving that cheque made it worse - that is what really angered people - as if that would put it right. She earns £144,000 a year, so she has that kind of cash in her back pocket."

The prime minister said he had personally advised Ms Blears to pay back the money.

One Labour councillor said: "One view is that the Executive committee of the CLP has no option but to back her - to do anything else would make it worse."

It is thought Ms Blears' seat could be under threat if a celebrity independent candidate was to stand against her.

Another Labour MP under fire, Bury North's David Chaytor, faced a grilling from members of his CLP last week.

Mr Chaytor is to appear before the Labour Party's National Executive Committee on June 2nd after claiming £13,000 for a flat where the mortgage was paid off.

He has insisted it was an innocent accounting mistake, but described it as an 'unforgivable error'.

On Thursday a regular meeting of his CLP discussed his situation and views were 'mixed' about the affair.

The next day Mr Chaytor met 12 members of the CLP's executive committee and spent 90 minutes explaining his mistake.

One source said: "It is a difficult situation. Yes he has made a mistake, but has kept within the rules, but can we convince the electorate of that. I don't know how you can when the electorate are smearing all MPs with the same brush."

Mr Chaytor has been suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party. His CLP will wait to see what action the National Executive Committee take before deciding whether or not to back him for the next General Election.

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