STRAIGHT-talking Pendle MP Gordon Prentice has pledged his support to Labour leader Tony Blair after landing in hot water for backing other MPs complaining about autocratic leadership.

He said: "It is fair to say that the past few days on the road to the manifesto have been a bit rocky with the announcements on the Scottish and Welsh devolution and to pretend otherwise would be absurd.

"But things are now settling down. With the publication of the document itself, the coping stones will be put in place and, along with my Parliamentary colleagues from constituencies all around the country, I shall be calling a meeting of all Party members in Pendle to discuss the road to the manifesto and its policy priorities.

"It is a serious and honest endeavour to be straight with the British people about what a Labour government will - and will not - do in office."

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