Left, Home Secretary Charles Clarke, and right, Alan Johnson THIS week, 15 years ago, Labour MPs called on Tony Blair to set a firm date for leaving No 10 in the wake of the party's local election drubbing and the dramatic sacking of Home Secretary Charles Clarke. Backbenchers queued up to insist only a timetable for handing over power could restore the Government's authority. It was reported that a letter was being drawn up to be circulated for signature by up to 50 mainstream Labour MPs calling for an "early end date" to the Blair era. And three North-East Labour MPs - Blaydon MP Dave Anderson and Newcastle MPs Doug Henderson and Nick Brown - stepped forward to urge the Prime Minister to set a date for leaving Downing Street.