AS one of the contributors to Labour's election manifesto, Stephen Byers can be expected to make a call for party unity.

But he is deluding himself if he thinks the clash of policies and personalities can be eradicated.

And he is deluding himself if he thinks the electorate will be fooled by pre-election acts of harmony.

It is natural for a political party which has won two elections and, according to the polls, is on course for a third, to show signs of division caused by complacency.

And it is natural for a political party to address the issue of succession when its leader has been in place for ten years.

A look back at the rather brutal end of Margaret Thatcher's reign in Downing Street provides an example of what can happen.

In asking for the unnatural, Mr Byers is asking for the politics to be taken out of politics.

He is also overlooking the fact that it was the Prime Minister himself who sparked the leadership debate.

If, by insisting he would not serve a full third term, Mr Blair's intention was to end such speculation then his cunning plan has backfired.

By giving such advance notice of his departure, Mr Blair has weakened, not strengthened Labour's popular appeal ahead of the election.

Many of his party's potential supporters know full well that a third term Labour Government will spend as much time and effort in choosing a leader as in looking after the needs of the country.

Labour ministers risk being accused of putting self-interests above national interest.