The Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, has said he hopes two rebel Labour Euro-MPs will stay in the party, but the decision is up to them.

The Euro-MPs, Ken Coates and Hugh Kerr, face an uncertain future in the Labour Party after they were reported to have left the Socialist group in the European Parliament, to which all Labour Euro-MPs belong, to join the Green group.

Hugh Kerr

Some Labour sources have called on them to leave the party.

But the two men insist they are merely temporary and honorary members of the Green group until it is decided whether they can sit in the Socialist group as Independent Labour.

The issue is set to be discussed this week at a meeting of the Socialist group in Brussels and the national Labour Party will also examine the situation.

Ken Coates

Mr Coates, who represents North Nottinghamshire and Chesterfield, and Mr Kerr, the Euro-MP for West Essex and East Herts, have admitted to having deep misgivings about the direction the Labour Government is taking.

The pair put their names to an article in The Observer in which they criticised Tony Blair's policy on benefit cuts for single mothers and the disabled.

Mr Cook told BBC 1's Breakfast with Frost their continuing Labour Party membership was a matter for Mr Coates and Mr Kerr.

He said: "It is for them to decide whether they can remain within the party and work within the party."

Scottish speculation

Meanwhile, Mr Cook failed to rule out quitting the Government to stand as First Minister in the new Scottish Parliament.

In what are thought to be his first public comments on the matter since newspaper speculation that he might make the switch from Foreign Secretary, he told the BBC both jobs were "very rewarding and exciting".

Mr Cook, MP for the Scottish constituency of Livingston, said the speculation was very flattering, but journalists had not discussed the issue with him and he was happy with his current job.

He said that with the UK now EU president for six months - which he hopes will be a "people's presidency" - he was embarking on a "very, very intensive" period of work.

"There will be time enough to think about the future at another time", he said.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©