Alternate Whips and thoughts of retirement

Hats off to the Mail's Ben Brogan who has discovered that

Gordon Brown's chums have set up a parallel Whips' operation that answers to the Prime Minister rather than Mr Hoon. It is being organised by Nick Brown, the Deputy Chief Whip, and includes both Whips and non-Whips who have in common their unquestioning loyalty to the PM. Key figures in this operation include the former whip and minister George Mudie, Mr Brown's PPS Ian Austin, as well as Kevan Jones and Helen Jones, both members of the six-strong parliamentary committee who act as shop stewards for the PLP. Others in this group include Mark Tami and Wayne David, Whips who were among the coup plotters who helped do in Tony Blair and were rewarded with Government jobs, and Tom Watson, seen by many MPs as the 2006 coup's enforcer who is now the blogging minister in the Cabinet Office.

Not only that but according to John Kampfner writing in the Telegraph says that for Labour MP's talking about Glasgow East

the word "meltdown" is on their lips. Evidence suggests they are running ahead of themselves, consumed in a gloom that is only partially rational, but the fear gives weight to the reality.
On the ground, many local Labour parties are effectively moribund. Much of the work is now done centrally, by email shots, social networking sites and telephone canvassing, but the financial state of the party nationally is so parlous that even much of this work is in jeopardy.

and

Several senior figures I have spoken to in recent weeks say they are considering standing down before the next election. This is a natural process, but such a retirement process accelerates as the prospect of opposition beckons.

More sign of Labour support ebbing away

The front page of this morning's Independent carries the critisim of Gordon Brown by the TUC General secretary Brendon Barber.

In comments that illustrate just how much Labour's core support is drifting way,the paper reporting

Calling on New Labour to "reconfigure its DNA", he said the party "has not been clear about what it wants to be – and where it now wants to go", adding that "the support base that Labour brought together in 1997 needs convincing that the party is on their side and fairness must once again be asserted".

He continues

Citing errors he believes the Government has made, Brendan Barber pointed to its dealings with public servants over pay and the pace of public service reform, saying that this has led to "difficult industrial disputes with public service unions determined to battle hard to defend living standards. Labour is paying a heavy political price as six million public servants sense that the Government, far from being on their side, just sees them as an easy target".

These are cutting and damaging remarks for the Prime Minister,Peter Hoskin writing on Coffee House says

It's becoming increasingly difficult to see who Brown's allies are. The unions don't like him; business doesn't like him; huge swathes of his party don't like him; and it seems voters aren't too keen either. In such a poisonous atmosphere, Brown hanging to his position would be some feat of endurance. Or stubborness.

Former Blair speechwriter points to defeatism in the party

I caught the end of the discussion on Newsnight yesterday over the government's U turn.Yvette Cooper was defending Brown's cause in front of Vince Cable and George Osbourne.

Danny Finkelstein was in the next chair to take part in a later debate,and was quite taken aback by the comments of former Blair speech writer Peter Hyman.

Hyman: The big danger now is that a lot of people are saying we've had a good innings, we've had our ten years... it wouldn't be so bad if we have a spell in opposition...
As soon as you start talking like that saying well, 'Would Cameron be that bad a Prime Minister?' I'm hearing that on our side...
It's a defeatism, which I think is incredibly dangerous. It's played out at the moment by people arguing in public in a way we've never done before.

Paxman: Can the party get out of it?

Hyman: I think it's very very difficult.

Rather worrying for the party one thinks

Backbenchers out in force for temporary workers rights

The benches at Westminster are likely to be filled rather more than on a usual Friday.Traditionally MP's return to their constituencies for the weekend.

Today, though promises to be different.The reason.A private memmbers bill which is attracting a growing number of Labour backbench MPs.

The cause that is bringing them out in force is a bill which aims to give agency workers the same rights as permenant employees.

Andrew Miller, MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston is introducing the bill as a response to the government's failure to secure the same rights for the million people who are termed agency workers.Gordon Briown's response (wait for it )is to set a commission of inquiry.

Polly Toynbee rallies the backbenchers in the Guardian this morning

You Labour MPs, you there dozing on the backbenches, today is the day to show you are still alive and kicking. You ministers, too, throw off your chains for once. I know how many of you individually support Andrew Miller's private member's bill to give agency workers the same pay and conditions as everyone else. So today give this bill a massive show of support, for the sake of your own self-respect

She,as do many others sees the government's failings as a sop to the 2005 manifesto in which the party needing cash from the unions to finance the elcetion agreed to commit to the Warwick agreement

Business leaders are against it,claiming that it would cost 250,000 jobs to implement it.As with all private members bills it will need the backing of the government to progress.

But are we at last witnessing Labour MP's actually looking after the rights of their members?