JONES TO BACK MEACHER FOR LABOUR LEADER

23-02-2007

Birmingham MP Lynne Jones has revealed that she plans to throw her weight behind Michael Meacher in the Labour leadership contest - but the Stirrer's Westminster sources suggest there could also be challenge to Gordon Brown from allies of Tony Blair.

Until yesterday, only trade union favourite John McDonnell had declared his hand, but tea-room gossip suggests that he had only secured the support of six colleagues - far short of the 44 he needs to formally oppose Brown when Blair quits.

That's cleared the way for Meacher to position himself as a more crediblestandard-bearer of the centre-left as long as McDonnell agrees to step down.

Selly Oak MP Jones told us: “There needs to be co-operation between John and Michael, and if there is I've told Michael I'll support him.”

Meacher unquestionably has a higher profile in the country, and if he secures enough backbench support to at least force a contest, it shouldat least generate a serious debate about green issues within the party - he served as an environment minister in the early years of the Blair government and has a genuine commitment to the subject.

Meanwhile another alternative to the “coronation” of Gordon Brown is being whispered about in the corridors of power- the possibility that one of Tony Blair's camp might decide to derail the process by fielding their own candidate.

One rumour sweeping Westminster is that John Hutton, the pensions secretary, might stand as a “stalking horse” to encourage opposition to Brown, and that if he gained support it would allow Home Secretary John Reid to enter the fray (expect to read about this in your Sunday broadsheets).

Although virtually every West Midlands Labour MP (apart from Jones) is expected to back Brown, in this scenario, ultra-Blairite MP's such as Liam Byrne and Pat MCFadden could be expected to support the Hutton/Reid ticket.

We shall see - although many MPs are hoping there'll be no contest though; it will cost around £1 million to stage an election, cash the hard-pressed Labour Party can ill afford.