The Guardian reveals that Robin Cook, who resigned from the Cabinet over the war in Iraq, is being deployed to win back disillusioned Muslim voters to Labour.

Several MPs who are suffering because of their stance on the war have asked the former foreign secretary to campaign in their constituency.

Because of his perceived credibility in Muslim communities, Cook has already addressed audiences in Mosques in Luton, Gloucester, Rochdale and the by-election battleground of Birmingham Hodge Hill.

In the recent Leicester South contest Cook spoke three times in Mosques, but to no avail.