Blood on the walls at the weekly meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party in Committee Room 14 of the House of Commons. (How I enjoyed writing that.)

You didn't have to have your ear pinned to the keyhole in the corridor outside to hear the raised voices and heated argument going on inside.

The row was about the EU treaty and the backing given to a campaign called I Want A Referendum by a "Gang of Four" of ex-ministers: Frank Field, Kate Hoey, Gisela Stuart and Graham Stringer.

Last week the rebels were hauled in by Chief Whip Geoff Hoon and threatened with having the party whip withdrawn, the same punishment David Cameron handed out to expenses-row Tory MP Derek Conway.

And at the PLP, a meeting nearly always packed with Labour loyalists, the normally softly-spoken "Buff" Hoon's raised voice could be heard again.

The "crime" committed by the four Euro-rebels is to back a campaign by the pressure group to target Labour ministers in marginal constituencies by holding referendums in their constituency.

The rebels argue, of course, that they are simply up-holding party policy, since Tony Blair promised a referendum on the EU constitution in the 2005 general election campaign.

"If we're kicked out, it will be the first time an MP has had the whip withdrawn for supporting party policy rather than opposing it," one of the four told me wryly.

The ministers under attack are Europe Minister Jim Murphy (East Renfrewshire), Home Secretary Jacqui Smith (Redditch), Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly (Bolton West), Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker (Gedling) and Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell (Harlow).

Hard-line loyalists, backed by Gordon Brown's "enforcer", Deputy Chief Whip Nick Brown, are furious and want the four chucked out of the Parliamentary Labour Party for their treachery.

But at the PLP the "Gang of Four" were defiant. And after being on the receiving end of some pretty hostile attacks from fellow Labour MPs, they stormed out and held an impromptu news conference in the corridor, further annoying their colleagues still inside Committee Room 14.

Geoff Hoon has reported them to Labour's shop stewards, the party's Parliamentary Committee, which meets on Wednesdays after PMQs.

Doesn't sound very threatening, I admit. But this was exactly the procedure which led to Jacqui Smith, when she was Chief Whip, recommending the booting out of the PLP of Clare Short, when she said she would back anti-war Lib Dem candidates.

Labour's original "Gang of Four"; Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Shirley Williams and Bill Rodgers, left the party in 1981 and former the SDP.

Expelling the 2008 Euro-rebels could also lead to a dangerous party split for Labour.

Comments

[Jack 5 Feb 2008 21:15:19]

This is dangerous. 4 Labour MPs sticking to a point of principle, whatever next: democracy?

[Eileen, Bolton 5 Feb 2008 20:32:28]

My MP is Ruth Kelly and I have already emailed her saying that she will lose my vote if she votes for the EU Treaty. Needless to say, I haven't had a reply!

[PaulD 5 Feb 2008 18:58:23]

Interesting that Frank Field and Kate Hoey are among the four rebels (I know less about the others). These two seem to gain respect from people of all persuasions for their honesty and common sense.
No wonder the NuLab politbureau hate them.

[Victor, NW Kent 5 Feb 2008 14:04:18]

I admire Frank Field and Kate Hoey. If either of them stood in my constituency against the sitting Conservative I might even vote for them as honest people.

I would not like to make that choice as our MP, Michael Fallon, is a good one and I would have liked to see him on this enquiry instead of David MacLean who is predisposed to hide and hush.

[alan mcpartland Dublin 5 Feb 2008 12:27:58]

The gang of 4 supporting democracy! No wonder New Labour want to chuck them out.We can't have democracy in the party after all. Where would it all lead.If I was a member of this "gang" I would have the meeting rooms "swept" for bugging devices before all future little rebellions."Big Brother Brown" likes to hear the grass grow it seems. Mind you the gang of 4 are keeping up a great Labour tradition; creating a lot of hot air over a hopeless cause.Good to see some things never change old or New.

[The Morning Post 5 Feb 2008 12:23:56]

If this is'nt the old constitutional treaty by any other name, then a lot of European leaders are being mislead. The leaders of Spain Germany and the Republic of Ireland to name but three have all openly admitted that this is the 'rejigged' constitutional treaty. Brown stands alone claiming that it is'nt and i know who i prefer to believe dont you?

[T. England 5 Feb 2008 12:10:52]

I just want to know how many Labour MPs think Britain can handle the fines & other expences that Britain will HAVE to bear as we sink deeper
into the fleecing EU!
We have joined a club that TELLS us to follow rules & regulations that when broken will cost us in BIG limitless fines, is this how the EU intened to bankrupt Britain? Not content with that! They also want to TELL us how to live & who to live with, will it never stop?
Who in their right mind would allow Britain to be hammered in this way?
Thats right! McBrown!

[R.Rowan 5 Feb 2008 11:56:43]

Cameron should give the people a vote and abide by the result even if Brown ratifies the treaty otherwise he will be no better than the lot in power.

[Philip, Bristol 5 Feb 2008 10:41:38]

Yes it is a Constitution.

If it looks like an elephant, smells like an elephant and s***s like an elephant...Its an elephant.

Telling everyone that black is some whiter shade of grey is not going to work even with this gullible public.

The cream is Teflon Tone likely to be President...

You really couldn't make it up...

You have to admit that Guy Fawkes had some good ideas...

[Philip, Bristol 5 Feb 2008 10:38:05]

Predictable NuLab response on here to anyone with the guts to say what they believe is right.

Off with their heads!!!

[Madnurse 5 Feb 2008 10:34:59]

Good grief!! Labour MPs actually backing the majority's opinion in this country. What ever next? We may become a democratic country again:-)

[John Delaney 5 Feb 2008 10:25:48]

It amazes me this referendum shout because at the end of the day cameron and hague will change thier minds.

you got to watch prescott V hague on youtube

[David Boothroyd 5 Feb 2008 10:13:35]

Gary Elsby is of course right. The problem for the four miscreants is that 'Iwantareferendum' is so obviously a pro-Conservative stooge organisation to which they are adding a thin veneer of being 'all-party'. Frank Field has form on this: several years ago he made a pro-tactical voting statement, and then refused to give a supportive statement to a Labour candidate who found the Lib Dem candidate using it to damage the Labour vote.

[Philip, Bristol 5 Feb 2008 10:07:17]

Great "Trial of Wendy Alexander" vid on You Tube. Or it's on Guido for those who live in the real world...

[Northernhousewife 5 Feb 2008 10:02:30]

Never understood why some of these peolpe were in the Labour Party anyway.
I will dissappointed if they are brow beaten. Stand as Independents next time.
We wish you well.

[Victor, NW Kent 5 Feb 2008 09:45:59]

Gisella Stuart is almost this country's leading authority on the EU and the Constitutional Treaty.

It is much more likely that she is right and those opposed are wrong.

[Philip, Bristol 5 Feb 2008 09:44:29]

Off post but there isn't on "on" one to post on. Still too interested in the good ols US of A to worry about the UK eh Sky? Damn that Fox connection.

Anyway

Gorbals Mick has appointed 3 MPs to investigate the expenses situation.

Nick Harvey, a LibDem MP and lobbyist making tens of thousands a year from an industry he is investigating.

David Maclean, the Conservative MP who tried to stop the Freedom of Information Act applying to MPs using underhand methods. Another good one then!

Sir Stuart Bell, a Labour MP who hired his son Malcolm as a researcher. Malcolm used to turn up at Parliament all right but he pinched £2,000 from George Galloway by stealing his chequebook. (Mixed feelings over Gorg Geo) Malcolm did time in a young offender's institute.

Another great example to combat fraud.

Do they really think we are that stupid???

Doesn't it make you angry? Whichever party you support.

[Gary Elsby stoke-on-trent 5 Feb 2008 09:38:32]

It's not a constitution, now matter how much it is said it is. The Lisbon treaty does not require a referendum and Labour Party policy does not exist to suggest it requires one.

Therefore, the 'gang of four' are totally out of order by undermining sitting fellow labour Colleagues.

I will lose no sleep at their demise.

Gary

[Philip, Bristol 5 Feb 2008 09:16:39]

Nice to see that some in the Labour party have principles.

This vote (that according to some on here no one is interested in) will finish Bottler once and for all if he doesn't keep his promise.

[JC, Deep South 5 Feb 2008 08:56:53]

Good for them! How often these days do we see politicians making a stand for what they genuinely believe is right & putting their constituents wishes above their own party careers. If only there were more like them, on all sides of the house.

[Peter, Fife 5 Feb 2008 08:26:02]

Perhaps this gang of four can leave the Labour Party and form the Social Democratic Conservative Party; now would that mean there still remained two Conservative Parties or would that increase to three Conservative parties?

[T. England 5 Feb 2008 07:55:34]

Its great to see that some people are trying to stop us hitting bankruptcy when we have to pay ALL the fines the fleecing EU will demand from us!!

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 5 Feb 2008 07:07:52]

If the Headmaster doesn't hold the referendum on Europe as promised in the Labour manifesto, it will only prove one thing, Brown doesn't respect the people who voted for him.

[socrates brighton 5 Feb 2008 01:44:32]

Thrown out of the Labour Party for honouring a manifesto promise and protecting the national interest. Says it all about the Labour Party doesn't it?
Oh, and thanks for listing the lying traitors in the party swinging the axe.

[Khalid 5 Feb 2008 00:32:40]

Oh Dear, the PLP getting its teeth into party politics. [I Can't Wait] and had better get my [Nu Shooz] sorted.