Gordon Brown faced another industrial relations crisis today after the Labour Party threatened to go out on strike over a programme of massive redundancies planned by British voters.
Talks aimed at saving around 150 Labour MPs from losing their jobs are said to be 'close to failure'. A party spokesman said: 'We're very dismayed by the British electorate's plans to make up to a third of our members redundant in the next six weeks, and the Prime Minister's failure to do anything about it. It's completely unjust, so we're all going out on strike until the Government sorts this out. I know we are the Government, but that's beside the point.'
Business Secretary Peter Mandelson denied that the walkout, which will see nearly 345 Labour MPs picket the Commons and refuse to do any work, will make a difference. 'For one thing Labour MPs don't really do any work in the first place,' he told a negotiation meeting. 'Anyway, I'm in the House of Lords, so I can just mind the shop while you lot go out on strike. Don't worry - you take your time about it. I'll have everything under my control - I mean, under control.'