Iain Dale: Blair to Step Down as an MP in Weeks

My good friend Iain Dale has published another of his hot "scoop" stories. That Tony Blair will step down within weeks of Gordo's Manchester Coronation as PM.

Good scoop? You're kidding. This has been reported in the MSM in various ways for months, nay years, including same name(s) of front runners that Iain has. And yes those rather half-hearted denials which may need a serious looking emergency to override them.

This seat really ought to be an All Woman Short List (AWS). Though to be fair in the NE representation of women is fairly good. But it would be fairly interesting to hear what excuses the NE Region and NEC could come up with for this NOT to be an AWS.

It would certainly have to have BME and women candidates each making at least one third of the six-person short list unless there is some exceptional overriding of the guidance. If there were a crisis say.

May 2008 is not out of the question I suppose. But as speculated continuously for months and years a rather earlier departure cannot be ruled out by any serious commentator.