Poor Harriet Harman was left trying to soothe the fevered brows of various angry emotional colleagues. Far be it from me to pry into private grief, but I've pieced together some of the events behind the door. Barry Sheerman complained about the way Michael Martin had been driven out of the Speaker's chair. Davie Hamilton, a Scottish backbencher accused ministers of "making policy on the hoof" and warned Labour is vulnerable to the SNP, a timely warning with a by-election in Mr Martin's Glasgow seat coming soon. A Northern colleague warned the party faces electoral meltdown in Lancashire, a traditional stronghold. "It really is that bad," he said. Ian Davidson put on a semi-comic turn, drawing gales of laughter when he insisted: "This is not the time to panic". Dennis Skinner shouted a lot. There were also clashes between backbenchers over whether MPs should voluntarily publish expenses claims or do all they could to keep them secret. "They all turned on each other," said an MP. Miss Harman was left to offer some crumbs of comfort, telling members in best matronly terms about the pastoral care and support available from the Labour machine. "We can get through this. It is going to be tough," she said. Labour officials later briefed hacks that she'd told MPs to have "iron in their souls." They didn't mention the muttering and shaking of heads that greeted this suggestion. "It's all coming apart," said one former minister afterwards. Another predicted that MPs' mood of "incoherent fear and anger" will crystallise in a "revolution" against Gordon Brown after this week's elections. All expect next Monday's PLP session to be explosive. Fear and loathing in the Parliamentary Labour Party
Last night's meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party was a turbulent affair. MPs returned to Westminster after a week of being pummelled by constituents over their expenses and the rest.
Others wanted to know exactly what powers the PLP and Labour's "star chamber" have over those caught out over their exes. I wonder why they were asking that?
Tuesday 2 June 2009
Fear and loathing in the Parliamentary Labour Party
Posted By: James Kirkup at Jun 2, 2009 at 10:39:18 [General][ 6 comments ]
Posts
Oops! Is this a case o rats deserting the sinking ship to save their own skins?
MikeCThe NuLab MPs have the solution in their own hands:
A no-confidence motion on the Govt that, I suspect would be supported by all other parties in Parliament and would force a General Election if won. They could then go back to their constituents and claim that they had helped to get a GE and appeal for forgiveness of wrongful deeds (if any) in the past
10:52 AM GMT
As Mr Burns of 'The Simpsons' would put it 'excellent'. Ferrets in a sack. Just add a couple of bricks (McClown will provide these) and toss into nearest canal. Job done. (Note to animal lovers: don't worry, I wouln't do this to real ferrets. But ZaNuLieBore MP's.....that's a different matter).
Dr Stephen Morris10:53 AM GMT
Davie Hamilton has a point. The Scotsman is this morning reporting that a YouGov poll has the SNP five points ahead of Labour in Scotland, with the Tories and Lib Dems level-pegging and the Greens on seven per cent. All a bit vague, and no mention of UKIP and the BNP.
JuniusI would hazard a guess as to why there is no mention of UKIP and the BNP, but do not wish to be labelled a troll.
10:55 AM GMT
"There were also clashes between backbenchers over whether MPs should voluntarily publish expenses claims or do all they could to keep them secret."
chforsythNot really? The fools! Have they learned nothing?
`[Harman] told MPs to have "iron in their souls."'
That would explain a lot, and nicely complement the wood in their heads.
11:08 AM GMT
Junius
DominicJTroll, you, never...
Since the scots are hardened racist socialists, UKIP and the BNP dont stand a chance.
The BNP being socialist enough, but not the right race, UKIP being neither.
And as always, who cares?
80% of the population, 90% of the wealth.
With a bit of luck scotland will be expelled from the union.
11:12 AM GMT
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER
Phil Kean----------------------------------
we may see the man who holds the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer being fired by the man who is the REAL Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Good luck Balls, if you get the 'job' that is.
Any ideas or policies that you'd like to pursue? DON'T BOTHER - just sign whatever lands on your desk from next door and be prepared to take the blame for anything that goes wrong.
.