STANDING FIRM ON THE LEFT

Today's piece on the 42 days vote in the Independent makes for interesting reading - but my suspicion is that the threat of defeat tonight in the House of Commons is being overplayed . Neverthless, it conjures up some wonderful visions of a contrite and desperate Gordon begging left-wingers for support. There are 10 "wavering MPs." who could make the crucial difference . Graham Stringer is one and I daresay Jon Cruddas is another .If Cruddas caves in, he loses all left credibility - however much Neal Lawson pleads his and COMPASS's case in the Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jun/10/tradeunions.labour?commentpage=1
From the Independent
Mr Brown's fate could lay in the hands of about 10 wavering Labour MPs, who oppose 42-day detention but may pull back from voting against it because defeat would inflict further damage on the party's standing with voters.
Ministers were forced to plead with members of the hard-left Campaign Group, some of whom Mr Brown has met three times, and the Democratic Unionist Party, who normally vote with the Conservatives and whose nine MPs could hold the balance.
The Prime Minister even risked a rift with George Bush on the eve of the US President's visit to London by promising Labour left-wingers he would back the lifting of EU sanctions against Cuba if they supported him on 42 days. Mr Bush wants the sanctions, which include a ban on high-level visits by Cuban officials, to be maintained but some EU countries, led by Spain, want them abolished to encourage the new leadership in Cuba.
"It was a tempting offer but I have decided that human rights in Britain are more important," said one left-winger who was lobbied by Mr Brown.