Blears' car attacked

Exclusive: Mike Keegan

August 10, 2009

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HAZEL BLEARS' car was smashed up while she canvassed for local support.

But the Salford MP insisted the attack, which left her Citroen Xsara Picasso with a damaged front window and two slashed tyres, was not the work of disgruntled constituents furious over her role in the expenses scandal.

Exclusive footage obtained by the M.E.N. shows the former cabinet minister in the rear of her dark-coloured vehicle on her mobile phone after the attack near the junction of Cemetery Road and Eccles New Road in Weaste.

One resident claimed that it was 'definitely targeted'.

Ms Blears came under fire for avoiding a tax bill of more than £13,000 on the sale of a flat in London. She later repaid the money.

But after resigning from the government in her role as Communities Secretary, she overcame an attempt to force her to step down as MP in a showdown with her local party.

Ms Blears, who had been knocking on doors on Eccles New Road and Cemetery Road, last night blamed the incident on 'teenagers with nothing to do on a hot afternoon'.

She said: "This is just the actions of a tiny minority."

When asked if she thought the attack was part of a vendetta against her, she said: "I don't think so. It's a bit pathetic."

Ms Blears, who reported the attack to police, got a lift home with a friend, while husband Michael waited for the RAC.

Constituent Norman Eaton, 51, who spotted the MP in her car after the attack, said: "This is the people of Salford telling her that they don't accept what she has done.

"She was with a couple of minders and her husband. Lots of people saw them and people know it's her car.

"They came back and the front window was damaged and the tyres had been slashed.

"They tried to drive off, but they were going nowhere. Next thing, police vans turned up."

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Hamish Macbeth, Whitefield (10/08/2009 at 08:35)

Blears is naive to think this has nothing to do with her expenses!
The vandal is naive if he thinks Blears will pay for this out of her own pocket!

Tony Dekker (10/08/2009 at 08:37)

do the decent thing Hazel - you're time is up

dessie, manchester (10/08/2009 at 08:40)

it was probably a freebie!!!

Angelene19, Manchester (10/08/2009 at 08:47)

I can't condone wanton vandalism but this woman is living in cuckoo land if she thinks this damage is not related to her expenses. Oh yeah, of course, we all have our cars smashed up a regular basis by bored teenagers don't we ? (not)
This woman must have as much sensitivity of a flying brick to call to people's homes and ask them to vote for her - people who maybe have lost their jobs and soon, maybe their homes. But I guess that's what it takes to be an MP.

Jay B, oldham (10/08/2009 at 08:57)

she was canvassing for local support? why? she lost her credability long ago! why doesnt she do the right thing and give up!

Al Capone of Atherton, Atherton (10/08/2009 at 09:01)

"teenagers with nothing to do on a hot afternoon'."
Well if you serve in a party that sells off playing fields and gives kids nothing to do what do you expect?
It wasn't them anyway. It was Disgruntled of Salford.

jimmy grumble (10/08/2009 at 09:11)

I cant wait for the general election, I will watching Hazels' demise the closest.
The People of Salford will speak and she will hear the vote!!!!!!!!

selfexiled (10/08/2009 at 09:27)

There is a perception amongst people with crocodile skin ;That if you do something really bad the best thing to do is leave things for a while let the dust settle and then act like nothing as happened.
This poor excuse for a public representative is a prime example and needs to realize she is toast as far as her political career in the North west is concerned.The People of Salford will show her at the Ballot Box how much they want her and the car incident is a pre-cursor of that dispite her spin on the incident.

Steve an alternative view (10/08/2009 at 09:42)

If she was at the time canvassing for local support would she not be actually in the area occupied by her constituents? Indeed is the junction of Cemetery Road and Eccles New Road within the boundaries of her constituency? Therefore would it not be very likely that the person who did this vandalism would actually be one of her constituents?
It appears to me that there’s none as blind as those who cannot see.

Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (10/08/2009 at 09:48)

Typical Blears spin again; this woman is so naive that she has completely lost touch with public opinion. Does she think that the people of Salford have already forgotten the expense scandal and the lead role that she played in that scandal? I personally think that this was a targeted attack on Blears car and not as she claims 'teenagers with nothing to do on a hot afternoon'.

The Higher Openshaw Exile, MANCHESTER (10/08/2009 at 09:48)

I can't stand the woman but this criminal damage.

Dave Sherwood, Irlam (10/08/2009 at 09:54)

If Blears honestly believes Salford people want her,why does she need minders for protection?.Is there no level she wont sink to just to keep her well paid job.Now she knows how the rest of us feel when we have our cars damaged.I have to admit that she has some bottle to knock on doors after what she has done.

Thomas The Tank, Rusholme (10/08/2009 at 09:57)

Absolutely agree vandals are vandals at the end of the day, don't agree with it. But as someone quite rightly pointed out, they don't usually target some ones car in the street without having a grudge? I would imagine there are 10,000 perfectly respectable wanna be vandals lurking round every corner of her X constituency ;-) Never mind Hazel you can always call on your new mate Esther " Cloud Cuckoo" Rantzen if you need a run around? Hope you remembered to keep your RAC subscription's paid in full? At tax payers expense of course? Unbelievable that she still has the gaul to walk up peoples garden paths and expect support? Beggars belief?

AngusDangus, Salford (10/08/2009 at 09:59)

What a very brave woman,to knock on doors of people she has betrayed,I wish I had that sort of courage.I just hope she knocks on my door.I need to ask her why she has not replied to my Letters and emails (26 in Total) over the last year and a half but can turn up when she wants my vote.Come on Blears, I dare you to knock.

AlexisV (10/08/2009 at 10:03)

'Genuinely' vandalised cars usually have their side windows smashed or their wing mirrors kicked off during hours of darkness.

BALL AND BAT, ALL OVER (10/08/2009 at 10:03)

Students these days drinking all day and smashing cars up because england lost a test match to the aussies were and well will it stop,england pull your finger out as where you play next there will be students smashing yet more cars up.

Mike S, Manchester (10/08/2009 at 10:09)

I'm more annoyed that police vans (plural) turned up according to the report. Has anyone else who has had their car broken into or damaged recently enjoyed such a good response from the police? Last time I phoned up it was all I could do to extract a crime number from them to give to my insurance company. I certainly didn't get a visit from any police officers, let alone police vans (again plural!).

The real Jimmy Grimble, Manchester (10/08/2009 at 10:33)

Hazel dear, just give up.

Theodore Anklebiter (10/08/2009 at 10:39)

A few weeks ago a car hit mine and another car before speeding off - the impact was so great that they left their front bumper complete with number plate - I got a crime number from the 999 operator and then NOWT! I am going to leave the bumper in Saint Annes square and see I get a Fixed penatly notice for littering.

RT, UK (10/08/2009 at 10:44)

Like Brown, someone else who does not get it...

Paul Fox (10/08/2009 at 10:44)

Are we paying for her to have these minders? I guess we are.......!

john davis, Broughton, Salford (10/08/2009 at 10:52)

TOUGH ON CRIME TOUGH ON THE CAUSES OF CRIME, Remember that one Hazel and whilst I cant stand the woman, I also cant stand crime so all in all th whole episode involves complete empty heads, Hazel included

Is It Me? (10/08/2009 at 11:02)

Probably I contributed to her car,insurance and minders! My loss,not hers,anyhow I thought she'd have a red Mini!

Knowall, stretford end (10/08/2009 at 11:08)

What Minders how about party members canvasing with her in her constituency Weaste is in her area. vandalism around that area is quite rife, ask any visiters to the cemetery who have had their car vandalised, by a group of teenagers who find fun in wrecking other peoples property, I have friends in the area who have had gas cylinders thrown through their front windows. I am not defending Blears in anyway but knowing the area the teenagers wouldn,t have a clue who see was, they don,t read papers or watch the news, they have back street access to booze and this fuels their vandalistic tendancies without parental control.

Bejjy ex Salford now Malta, Malta (10/08/2009 at 11:11)

Mike S, Manchester

I was the victim of car crime, theft and vandalism, ten times whilst living in Salford and only after one incident, the first, did the police turn up and that was twenty-four hours later. The police were there almost immediately after the attack on Blears' car and are now actively searching for the culprits who caused the damage. Talk about one law for all; poppycock.

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