John Austin: Potential challenger

A Labour MP has said he is prepared to run as a "stalking horse" candidate against Tony Blair.

Erith and Thamesmead MP John Austin said on Monday that if another challenger did not come forward in the next few weeks he would seek to dislodge the prime minister.

The left-winger has been highly critical of the party leader, echoing concerns on the Labour backbenches that his unpopularity cost colleagues their seats in last week's election.

Many are warning that if Blair does not at least set a date for his departure they will set in train and official contest for the job.

Austin is the first figure to actually threaten a challenge as MPs reconvene at Westminster.

Authority

While he would have little chance of winning such a ballot the move would be enough to seriously undermine the prime minister's position, in the same way that Conservative Sir Anthony Meyer did to Margaret Thatcher in 1989.

Austin told the London Evening Standard: "If the prime minister has not indicated he will go sooner rather than later then I would certainly think a stalking horse would be a possible tactic.

"I would be prepared to be a stalking horse candidate but there are may be more plausible candidates.

"I hope he [Blair] would have made his announcement before the party conference in October."

Rules

Labour's rules require that any challenger receives a nomination from at least 20 per cent of the parliamentary party, now 72 MPs.

Left-wingers felt in the last parliament that they could rely on the support of 62 backbenchers and would be confident of achieving 72 now.

However it is uncertain as to whether this applies to when the party is power or only in opposition.

Otherwise an election can only be triggered by a majority card vote at Labour's annual conference, which would be difficult to achieve without widespread union support.