Blair faces increasingly rebellious parliament

Tony Blair

Tony Blair is facing the most rebellious first session of any Parliament since the war, according to a new study.

New research shows that unprecedented backbench discontent is threatening to make this the most troubled Parliament of the post-war era.

Figures produced by academics at Nottingham University show that Labour MPs are defying Government whips in 29 per cent of divisions, a faster rate than rebel Tory MPs under John Major.

Researcher Philip Cowley, who has chronicled the rise of rebellions since Labour came to power in 1997, said: "If Labour MPs keep that up, this session is on target to be the most rebellious first session of any post-war parliament, and the parliament will be on target to be the most rebellious parliament of the post war era."

Mr Blair has already suffered an unprecedented four defeats in the year since the general election, and is facing continued disquiet over hugely controversial policies such as education, nuclear power and the replacement of the trident nuclear deterrent despite still enjoying a majority of 66.

MPs defeated the Government over plans to detain terror suspects for 90 days without charge and a planned new offence of incitement to religious hatred ensured that the controversial Education and Inspections Bill passed only because it enjoyed backing from David Cameron's Conservative Party.

Mr Cowley found that 92 Labour MPs have voted against the whips so far this Parliament, including six from the newest intake of backbenchers.

He said that rate of rebellion since the election was more frequent than the 23 per cent rate suffered by John Major after 1992.

Yesterday Mr Blair insisted he would press ahead with further contentious legislation, including new police powers to seize cash and cars from suspected drug dealers and the imposition of restrictions on the movements of suspected organised criminals.

He criticised claims that the Government was too authoritarian, branding critics in the legal establishment as "out of touch."

But he faced immediate criticism from civil rights groups and opposition MPs.

Mr Blair told The Observer: "I would widen the police powers to seize the cash of suspected drug deals, the cars they drive around in and require them to prove they came by them lawfully.

"I would impose restrictions on those suspected of being involved in organised crime. In fact, I would generally harry, hassle and hound them until they give up or leave the country.

"I would make it a presumption that those who deal in drugs to young children should go to prison; and I would make breach of a drugs treatment order an arrestable offence.

"But at the same time, we should increase massively, as we are doing, the provision and speed of drug treatment to offer abusers a way out."

But David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, told ITV's Dimbleby programme: "The Prime Minister, yet again, is putting out a whole series of headline-grabbing initiatives, one or two of which may be sensible. But the raw truth is the public will say who is responsible, who's been in charge, whose watch is it in which hard drug-taking has now crossed a million, in which violent crime appears to be out of control."

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, said: "No one will disagree with making life difficult for organised criminals but the public is entitled to be sceptical. Some of his proposals smack of presentational gimmickry.

"Tony Blair has a track record of capturing headlines - with a failure to follow up. Tough talk is one thing, being effective is quite another."

Lord Smith, the former Culture Secretary, criticised Mr Blair for attempting to change the law to allow terror suspects to be held for 90 days without trial.

He said: "I don't believe that you jettison some of the fundamental principles of liberty in society because of external threats that society faces."

Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said: "Sadly the Prime Minister's complacent attitude to our rights and freedoms is no surprise."

- INDEPENDENT