James Forsyth James Forsyth

Andrew Grice: 42 days rebellion fading

The Independent’s Andrew Grice reports that Jacqui Smith’s performance at the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting was well received. It appears that the rebellion is diminishing rather than meta-sizing.

Smith was frank about the consequences of losing the vote next Wednesday:

“We have gone a million miles. Meet us on the way. Make no mistake. Defeat will have a political message.”

Ever since the local elections, Tories have been saying that they expected Labour to rally to Brown on this measure and it seems that this might be beginning to happen. The PLP is not yet prepared to deal the kind of blow that defeat would entail to the Prime Minister.

Hat Tip: Politics Home

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