No I have kept quiet on something I have known for a while about certain MPS working with the establishment to block nominations for John & John. In effect to stop democracy. Wiseman Ps Our clp had a number of nos for Gordon

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Of course, such bullying tactics never occurred in any previous government did they? Nooo. Not when Labour didn't have an overall majority in the 1970s, say. No, then everyone just voted the way they wanted, the Whips just sat around with their feet up drinking their beer and eating their sandwiches in the smoke-filled rooms, cheering on the rebels.

Give me a break jonesey - stop trying to spin that firm whipping is an evil conjoured by new Labour. I bet if the reverse were true: that we had a trot government forcing MPs to impose failed statist solutions to every issue under the sun you'd be applauding the Whips for forcing dissenters into the "aye" lobby. Admit it.

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I personally think that motions should focus on dropping the % of the PLP needed to stand when there is a vacancy - from 12.5% to 7.5% as passed by Susan's CLP.

The tactics used by the Brownites varied from MP to MP. Unfortunately, for some of those planning to nominate McDonnell, all it took was a phone call from Brown himself.

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Jonesy, I can't find where i linked this from, but this was a piece in the Guardian: There were a couple of other similar pieces written - perhaps more organised folks will have links? Brownites pressured Meacher supporters not to back McDonnell David Hencke, Westminster correspondentFriday May 18, 2007 Guardian Unlimited Brownite pressure on the 21 MPs who voted for Michael Meacher scuppered John McDonnell's chances of getting onto the ballot paper for the leadership contest, Guardian Unlimited has learned. For all his official statements that Gordon Brown would welcome a contest, his campaign team worked overtime to dissuade potential supporters of McDonnell from backing the leftwing challenger. In the 24 hours after the two leftwing rivals agreed to combine their support to stand against the chancellor, the Brownites managed to deter 14 of Mr Meacher's supporters from backing Mr McDonnell. Despite the shredding of the signed papers identifying the supporters, Guardian Unlimited has obtained the names of eight of the people who switched their support at the last moment. One actually switched before it was known which of the two leftwing candidates would go on to enter the contest with Mr Brown. Some of those who switched - such as Elliot Morley, MP for Scunthorpe, and, like Mr Meacher, a former Defra minister - probably needed little persuading. But others do not appear to be natural Brown supporters. The list includes Colin Challen, the MP for Morley and Rothwell, who stood down so that Mr Brown's closest aide, Ed Balls, could get a safe Labour seat; Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds, North East; Ken Purchase, MP for Wolverhampton North East; Austin Mitchell, MP for Grimsby; Chris Mullin, MP for Sunderland South; Terry Rooney, MP for Bradford, North, and Andy Reed, MP for Loughborough. Sources on the Brown team confirm that their own lists had identified Mr Hamilton, Mr Mullin and Mr Purchase as Meacher supporters. But some - notably Mr Mullin and Mr Morley - had made it clear that if Mr Meacher did not stand they would opt for Mr Brown. There is much suspicion in the Brown camp that some of the MPs on Mr Meacher's list were playing a double game - helping the leftwinger when they had no intention of actually voting for him. The collapse of support for Mr McDonnell also has had a fallout for the deputy leadership campaign. McDonnell supporters believed that Jon Cruddas, the centre-left candidate for John Prescott's job, might have brought over some extra support for Mr McDonnell after Mr Cruddas had got enough nominations to get onto the ballot. This never happened. According to the Cruddas camp this was never promised but the Mcdonnell supporters are furious and, as a result, McDonnell organisers Mike Wood and David Drew, plus Kathy Clark, backed Hilary Benn at the last moment, making sure he made the ballot. Mr McDonnell was also deprived of two other possible votes from waverers. Gavin Strang, the minister dumped by Tony Blair, was persuaded personally by Mr Brown to back him. Andrew Dismore, MP for Hendon, listed by the Brownites as hostile, changed his mind after a telephone call from the Jewish Chronicle pointing out if he backed McDonnell he would be supporting a man who wanted sanctions against Israel. The MP has a substantial Jewish vote and his name is now on the Brown supporters list. As for the motions to my GC - we're doing the 7.5% one too of course.

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Regional Party officers in Yorkshire were ringing up ..for obvious reasons if you count how many CLPs in Yorkshire didn't nominate in the end. As you say, Duncan, most CLPs would have just put it through on the nod as there was no other candidate. It's hardly a ringing endorsement of Brown. But if you look on the list of those who HAVEN'T nominated it's still quite significant. Another is Manchester Blackley, where MP Graham Stringer didn't nominate Brown and there's also a big left contingent.

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Had a major struggle at my GC to STOP them nominating Brown. The reason given by some sitting councillors is that "they would look stupid" or "it would look bad" if they didn't nominate.

I just don't get it!

Fortunately there were enough ex-councillors ('ex' due to Blair) who saw reason and voted against any nomination.

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