Green Party

Green Party national Deputy Leader, Norwich City Councillor Adrian Ramsay, says Charles Clarke MP has every reason for saying he is ashamed to be a Labour MP, but Mr Clarke's outspoken comments are because he fears he may lose his seat.

Norwich South MP and former Government minister Charles Clarke yesterday told the BBC that recent events had made him "ashamed to be a Labour MP".

Adrian Ramsay, who will challenge Charles Clarke for the Norwich South seat at the General Election, said: "Mr Clarke has every right to be ashamed of aspects of Labour's record, but not just those which happened after he left the cabinet. Mr Clarke has been a fundamental part of this Government and played a key role in bringing in top-up fees, and trying to bring in ID cards and 90 day detention without trial, when he was in cabinet. He backed Tony Blair in countless follies including the Iraq war and the privatisation of many public services.

"He was happy to be in a cabinet which supported 'light touch regulation' of the finance sector - which led to the collapse and bail out of several banks. He has backed many shameful policies which have betrayed Labour voters and the country.

"So why is he so outspoken now? Perhaps he is worried that his own seat is under threat - Greens finished three thousand votes ahead of Labour in his Norwich South constituency in 2008 local elections.

"We need more changes in Westminster than just a change of Labour leader, and in Norwich South the Green Party is best placed to provide that change."

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