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As you will have gathered from recent media coverage, I have joined with a group of colleagues who were elected in 2001 to ask the Prime Minister to consider leaving office sooner
rather than later. This left me in a difficult position as a Parliamentary Private Secretary and I have consequently resigned from the
government. I strongly believe the Prime Minister has lost the confidence of too many colleagues and more widely within the membership of the
Labour Party and that renewal can only follow a change of leadership. Our fortunes will not recover until that change has taken place. I am
confident that I have reflected the views of the constituency party in taking this step. Whilst the letter was intended to be private, it has
unfortunately become public leading to the resignation of a junior minister and a number of other colleagues. I had hoped that the Prime Minister would have been able to see that this was not a
group of the usual suspects, but mainstream, supportive colleagues who fear for the interest of the party and country. Whilst I welcome the indication that the PM will have left office by July
2007, I want to see a more concrete indication that a transition to a new leader is being actively planned.
I have accepted an invitation from Labour Friends of Israel to join a delegation to the Middle East.
My decision to accept an invitation from LFI is not a reflection of any political position on the recent conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The delegation consists of Labour MPs, peers and members’ staff and provides an opportunity for learning and liaising. Meetings are
planned both with senior members of the Israeli Labor party, other members of the Knesset and with representatives of Fatah and the PLO in Ramallah on the West
Bank. The delegation will also hold discussions with HE the British Ambassador to Israel. It is clear we will be able to address a range of issues about security, land, Palestinian refugees, relations with neighbouring countries and the key power
struggles with Syria and Iran within the region. I hope to report back on the visit when I return
Chris Mole MP
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September 2006
