Beckett adds to ‘smooth transition’ calls
Margaret Beckett has added her voice to calls for a “smooth transition” of power between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
The foreign secretary said she believed a peaceful hand over from the prime minister to the chancellor was possible.
The long-serving Labour MP also disagreed with comments by former home secretary Charles Clarke that Mr Blair had lost his sense of purpose and direction, insisting she had seen very clear direction from the prime minister.
Jack Straw, her predecessor as foreign secretary, echoed her sentiments. Like Mr Clarke, Mr Straw was demoted in May’s reshuffle, but he insisted Mr Blair had lost none of his authority and he was happy for him to serve as long as he decided to stay on.
Several of this morning’s newspapers contain speculation on the timing of Mr Blair’s departure, prompted by Mr Clarke’s comments.
According to The Guardian Mr Blair will try to settle the handover of power to the chancellor before the Labour conference in the autumn to prevent speculation dominating the event.
Senior Blairite MPs have told the Telegraph that Mr Blair is preparing to announce that he will step down next year, around the 10th anniversary of his time in Downing Street.
Today, in an interview with The Times, Mrs Beckett responded to the question of whether Mr Blair and Mr Brown could carry out a smooth transition of power by saying: “I think they can do that”, adding: “I certainly hope they will do that.”
Asked whether the pair should signal to the autumn conference that they were ready to handover power, she replied: “I think that is for Tony and Gordon.”
Mrs Beckett also made clear she did not agree with Mr Clarke’s assessment of the prime minister.
“I do not think there is any indication that he has lost a sense of purpose and direction,” she told the paper.
“Indeed from my vantage point the direction he gave me about wanting me to use the diplomatic channels to pursue issues like climate changes was absolutely clear and is part of a much bigger picture.”
Mrs Beckett, 63, also revealed that she was so surprised to be offered the role of foreign secretary that her initial response was a four-letter word beginning with “F”.
