The resignation of Jim Sheridan from his role as a PPS at the Department of Defence may not seem that much of a story, but there are rumours that backbench anger over our foreign policy may bubble over into a rash of similar actions by other PPS.
There is genuine anger and frustration at Blair's stance over Lebanon, especially amongst MPs who represent constituencies with large Muslim communities.
Writing in today's New Statesman, Burnley MP and friend of politicsjunkie Kitty Ussher writes about how hard it is to sell the government's position to her constituents. The UK is taking sides and once again, we are on the opposing side to most Muslim and Arab opinion.
Ussher has been brave enough to be blunt with her government and party, and say it like it is. The deaths of Muslims seem to mean less and less to the British government, and their craven attitude towards Israel is killing Muslims.
It is said that on Friday, over 100 Labour MPs will ask for parliament to be recalled. The scale of unease about this issue should give the PM pause for thought on his Barbados holiday.
MPs want to talk, debate and question the government. The resignation of Sheridan is a serious blow to the credibility of the PM's present stance.
Sheridan spoke with eloquence about how much he supports the PM, regards him as a friend. He has not resigned to try and force Blair out - in fact he says that when the time comes Blair can leave with his head held high - on the domestic front.
Sheridan is a loyalist - he just cannot sit back and let the government get this so very wrong. If a whole gang of PPS decide to do the same thing, the pressure on Blair will become untenable. HE is clearly ignoring his own party, at exactly the moment they want to get rid of him for good.
Similarly, Kitty Ussher is not one of the usual suspects. Loyal to a fault, she also feels she cannot sit back and let the government make such a grave mistake. We cannot bang on about listening to and engaging with British Muslims and then ignore their righteous anger at the events in the Middle East.
These voices of moderate new Labour loyalists are ones that Blair would be foolish to ignore. If the splits in the Cabinet get worse, he could find himself forced to recall a parliament baying for his blood.
There is genuine anger and frustration at Blair's stance over Lebanon, especially amongst MPs who represent constituencies with large Muslim communities.
Writing in today's New Statesman, Burnley MP and friend of politicsjunkie Kitty Ussher writes about how hard it is to sell the government's position to her constituents. The UK is taking sides and once again, we are on the opposing side to most Muslim and Arab opinion.
Ussher has been brave enough to be blunt with her government and party, and say it like it is. The deaths of Muslims seem to mean less and less to the British government, and their craven attitude towards Israel is killing Muslims.
It is said that on Friday, over 100 Labour MPs will ask for parliament to be recalled. The scale of unease about this issue should give the PM pause for thought on his Barbados holiday.
MPs want to talk, debate and question the government. The resignation of Sheridan is a serious blow to the credibility of the PM's present stance.
Sheridan spoke with eloquence about how much he supports the PM, regards him as a friend. He has not resigned to try and force Blair out - in fact he says that when the time comes Blair can leave with his head held high - on the domestic front.
Sheridan is a loyalist - he just cannot sit back and let the government get this so very wrong. If a whole gang of PPS decide to do the same thing, the pressure on Blair will become untenable. HE is clearly ignoring his own party, at exactly the moment they want to get rid of him for good.
Similarly, Kitty Ussher is not one of the usual suspects. Loyal to a fault, she also feels she cannot sit back and let the government make such a grave mistake. We cannot bang on about listening to and engaging with British Muslims and then ignore their righteous anger at the events in the Middle East.
These voices of moderate new Labour loyalists are ones that Blair would be foolish to ignore. If the splits in the Cabinet get worse, he could find himself forced to recall a parliament baying for his blood.
