Tony Blair's statement on reports that Labour is seeking to abolish the post of Deputy Leader

“A decision to abolish the post of Deputy Leader would be undemocratic, damaging and politically dangerous. To suggest it at this time shows a quite extraordinary level of destructive sectarianism. The Labour Party has always contained different views within it and the Deputy Leader’s position has been one way of accommodating such views. Getting rid of it would be a signal that such pluralism of views was coming to an end despite being cherished throughout Labour’s history.”