PM flies home to discontent
Press Association
Saturday August 26, 2006 2:13 AM
Tony Blair's holiday was at a definite end as he battled to contain festering discontent within his Party on several fronts.
The Prime Minister had barely crossed the threshold at Downing Street following three weeks in Barbados when nearly 40 Labour activists announced they were defecting in protest at his Lebanon policy.
Pressure is also growing on the premier to name his departure date, amid poor poll ratings and reported concern among ministers that the Government is "drifting".
Some 37 Labour Party members in Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett's constituency of Derby South lashed out as they quit for the Liberal Democrats.
The defectors, predominantly Muslims of Pakistani origin, included Mohammed Rawail Peeno, a Labour Party ward chairman, and Masood Akhta, an ex-city and county councillor.
Mr Peeno said: "We could not remain in the Labour Party after their mishandling of the Lebanon crisis. When Margaret Beckett refused to back a ceasefire and instead sided with George Bush, it was the breaking point for us.
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