Calls to halt Labour leadership race 'not helpful'
Calls to halt the Labour leadership race have been branded "unhelpful" after reports emerged today of an alleged "hard-left infiltration" of the party.
Calls to halt the Labour leadership race have been branded "unhelpful" after reports emerged today of an alleged "hard-left infiltration" of the party.
John Prescott has blasted his former boss Tony Blair for "totally unacceptable" comments he made about left-wing leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn.
In a rare speech yesterday, Blair told the centrist think-tank Progress that anyone whose heart was with Corbyn should get a "transplant".
Incensed by this, former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott told BBC Radio 4 that Blair's intervention was "absolutely staggering".
He said: "To use that kind of language is just abuse. The Labour Party is about the heart as well as the head. To suggest that somebody should have a transplant if they are making decisions by the heart is totally unacceptable."
He also rejected claims that it would be a "disaster" for Labour if Mr Corbyn became leader and said it was Mr Blair's invasion of Iraq which had undermined support for the party.
Calls to halt the Labour leadership race have been branded "unhelpful" after reports emerge of alleged "hard-left infiltration" of party.
Corbyn urges his party to be 'true to its roots' and offer 'a credible alternative' as the race to become new Labour leader continues.
"I can't believe that he said it," said Blair's former deputy Lord Prescott, who begged Labour to debate policies not personalities.