Beer and sandwiches may stumble over Hutton

John Hutton has refuted the idea that the unions are wanting him sacked from his position as Business secretary.

It follows reports in this morning's Times that speculated that

Union leaders say there has been a complete breakdown in relations with the leading Blairite minister and are demanding his scalp in an autumn reshuffle.one senior trade union official said: “Some of the trade unions can't sit in the same room as Hutton. There has been an absolute breakdown in relations.”

Coming ahead of this weekend's beer and sandwiches meeting between the party and the unions over 100 policy proposals,the timing of the story could hardly be worse.

According to the report

They are furious with Mr Hutton after he said in May that the Labour Government had reached “the end of the era” on considering sweeping new regulations as the best way to improve standards.