The PM and the enemy within
THE 49 Labour MPs who defied Tony Blair on Wednesday were united against the Terror Bill. But their motivations vary.
Some are serial offenders, others loyalists who are getting their first taste of trouble.
Between them they have the power to decide the Prime Minister’s fate by withholding their support for his ambitious programme of third term reforms on health, education, welfare and nuclear issues.
Here the Daily Mail spotlights the different groups which are vying to cause trouble for Mr Blair.
Gordon’s gang
THE Chancellor’s loyalists are always on the lookout for opportunities to hack away at Tony Blair’s support.
They believe that every blow to the Prime Minister is a boost for Mr Brown – even if he sometimes disagrees.
Not all of them rebelled on Wednesday, but they remain an influential block, especially on contentious public service reforms.
Key figures: Nick Brown, former Chief Whip considered a leading Brown adviser; George Mudie, former minister and whip; Doug Henderson, former Foreign Office minister.
Disappointed loyalists
A DANGEROUS breed of Blairites who until now could be counted on to back the Government’s cause whatever the issue, but have become disillusioned by Downing Street’s management style and the pursuit of unpopular policies.
Key figures: Nick Raynsford, the modernising former minister, who defied the whips on the Terror Bill; Chris Mullin, former minister; Andrew Love, former ministerial aide.
New bloods
BARELY six months in, there are signs that a number of new MPs are fast acquiring a taste for rebellion.
Instead of worrying about pleasing the whips in the hope of preferment, they are willing to risk their future careers to challenge Mr Blair’s authority.
They may be gambling on a change of regime and the chance of quick advancement under Mr Brown.
Key figures: Katy Clark, MP from the Chancellor’s Scottish heartland; Emily Thornberry, who replaced Blairite Chris Smith in London’s trendy Islington; Sir Peter Soulsby, former council leader rated by Number 10.
Embittered ex’s
EIGHT years of power means that there are dozens of Labour MPs on the backbenches who were either sacked as ministers or who never got the promotion they hoped for.
As has-beens or never-beens, they feel they have nothing to lose and are more than happy to cause embarrassment for the leader who dumped them or ignored them.
Key figures: Former International Development Secretary Clare Short; the former Health Secretary Frank Dobson; Mark Fisher, the Old Etonian former arts minister.
Serial offenders
THERE is a hard core of Left-wing MPs who will use any opportunity to vote against a leader they believe is betraying Labour’s traditional values.
They are dubbed the ‘Usual Suspects’ by the whips. The Labour leadership has given up trying to win them over and now simply counts on them to revolt at every vote.
Key figures: Jeremy Corbyn, sandalwearing firebrand of the Old Labour wing who chalked up 148 rebellions in the last Parliament; Bob Marshall- Andrews, the Left- wing QC and novelist who led the attack on the Terror Bill.