Stringer makes his Eurosceptic views well known

Manchester's Labour MP and former leader of the council Graham Stringer made his views on Europe very plain this morning on Radio 4's Today programme.

The member of Blackley and Broughton told the programme that he was against Ed Miliband's stance that Labour MP's should vote with the government against the amendment on a European referendum.

He made clear his views about having a referendum saying that as all three party's had at some time put the issue in their manifestos,it was rather stupid that the country shouldn't be allowed to vote.

However in comments which will surely upset his leader Ed Miliband,he said that the European union as one of the factors in causing economic instability around the world and that now was the right time to discuss whether we should be part of it.

If Britain left he added it means that we would not have to find money to subsidise it any longer.

The former Labour whip said that the issue of Europe had been put to sleep by his party and there was no longer the consensus for debate that there is in the Tory party.

However he added that it was changing and there was a duty for the opposition to oppose the direction that the government was taking us in over Europe.

The government has announced that there will be a debate on the issue in the Commons on Monday as David Cameron finds himslef under increasing pressure from the right of his party to acceed to a referendum

Difficult times * 9

Just listening to the World at One.Some of the highlights following last night' defeat include Alex Salmond caling Labour stone age politicians in a computer age and saying that they no longer have activists but various hangers on.

Alistair Darling is wheeled out as the senior spokesman continuing the hype bole that the reason is the economy and that the party needs to do everything that it can to help the public face the economic hardships ahead.

Graham Stringer hints that a leadership election should now take place and urges the men in grey suits to talk to the PM and explain that the party needs a change of policies and that may mean a change of leader.

Lord Darzi meanwhile be lives that the parliamentary party has no stomach for a leadership contest but despite that Brown should leave on his own accord

Most worryingly though,Gordon Brown's appearance in front of the BBC cameras simply spent nearly three minutes repeating the phrases that he was guiding us through the tough times,he was here for the duration,that the country was best placed.Remarkably he managed to use the phrase "difficult times" 9 times

The first rumblings from the Backbenches

"It is the responsibility of senior members of the Cabinet to say we are going in the wrong direction and one of them should declare their intention to stand against Mr Brown.

The words of Graham Stringer,Manchester MP and former leader of the council.(via Manchester Evening News)

"Without that we are heading for electoral disaster at the next election and I desperately want the Labour Party to win, he goes on to say.adding that the campaign was badly run and critising the attacks on the Tory candidate

It will be interesting to see how many more Labour members will put their heads above the parapet