Six quit in growing Blair leadership protest

Six members of the British government today resigned their posts in protest at Tony Blair’s refusal to name a date for his resignation, as Blair warned that they were putting Labour’s electoral prospects at risk.

Blair's efforts to calm fevered speculation over his departure date were dealt a heavy blow today with the resignation of formerly-loyal junior defence minister Tom Watson, along with ministerial aides Khalid Mahmood, Wayne David, Ian Lucas, Mark Tami and David Wright.