Co-op MPs named by anti-war activists

NINETEEN Co-op MPs claimed to be "supporters of an illegal war in Iraq" have been listed on a left-wing website aimed at removing Tony Blair as Prime Minister.
The anti-Blair website, backed by a large national newspaper advertisement, says the Government&#039s support for what it calls a corrupt and unelected US President is a military blunder worse than Suez and a moral disaster comparable to Munich.
The advert also draws attention to New Labour&#039s attitudes to GM food, tuition fees, "sleazy PFI deals," a perceived refusal to tax the super-rich, "puerile lying attacks on Europe," threats to the BBC and what it terms Mr Blair&#039s ?blood debt&#039 to Bush&#039s America.
The ad and website suggest that if the Prime Minister does not resign and is not removed by his party, voting Mr Blair&#039s "worst" 100 MPs out of Parliament is the next-best option and say that it would be better to have genuine Labour in a coalition than the PM running what activists believe is a "Downing Street dictatorship."
The Co-op MPs listed alongside dozens of others on the website as supporters of an illegal war are: Adrian Bailey, Louise Ellman, George Foulkes, Mike Gapes, Linda Gilroy, Mark Hendrick, Phil Hope, Alan Keen, Andy Love, Thomas McEvoy, John McFall, Alun Michael, Lewis Moonie, Meg Munn, Barry Sheerman, Angela Smith, Gareth Thomas, Don Touhig and Dennis Turner.
The website gives supporters advice on how to go about de-selecting a Labour MP and says that, at the next election, tactical voting on a far smaller scale than occurred at the recent Brent East by-election could have the effect of precipitating a coalition agreement between Labour and other non-Tory groupings.
According to the site, anti-war activists in Mark Hendrick&#039s Preston constituency have already debated his re-selection, but the vote went narrowly in the MP&#039s favour.
A Co-op Party spokesman told the News that it was anticipated that all 30 Co-op-sponsored MPs would stand at the next general election, with the possible exception of Lewis Moonie, whose Kirkcaldy constituency is scheduled to disappear as a result of boundary changes.
Meanwhile the "Dump Blair" ad which appeared in The Independent has urged consumers to boycott Tesco, Sainsbury&#039s and Asda and other companies which back Bush/Blair and is advising supporters to shop at the Co-op, Waitrose and Lidl instead.