Hunting the popular vote

Why some MPs are foxed by the hunting question

By BBC News Online's political correspondent Nick Assinder.

One or two of the more cynical Labour backbenchers have been asking why the government has suddenly revived the fox hunting issue with pledges to "do something about it".

And they point to the fact that it was almost a year ago that Tony Blair first set this particular hare running, to mix my blood sports, when he was going through a bit of a bumpy patch.

He told BBC1's Question Time: "It will be banned. We will get a vote to ban it as soon as we possibly can."

However he almost immediately backtracked, blamed the House of Lords for killing off a backbencher's ban when it was actually the government which had denied it parliamentary time, and then put the whole issue on the back burner by setting up the Burns Inquiry.

But now that Burns has reported back, instead of the fudge everyone was expecting Mr Blair has made fresh promises to offer MPs a vote and, if that fails, include a ban in the next election manifesto.

Hunt ban could spark countryside protest

The suspicious MPs, however, believe this is just another stunt to divert attention away from the government's current problems and appeal to disillusioned heartland Labour voters.

They claim that by offering a series of options for MPs to vote on, there will be no clear cut decision to ban the sport.

Even then it is highly likely that the House of Lords will throw any ban out, ensuring nothing can happen before the next election.

Any attempt at a ban, no matter how minimal, will also spark off yet another mass protest by the Countryside Alliance which so spooked ministers last time around.

But Mr Blair now seems to be ready to make a manifesto pledge and take on the rural lobby. Or is he?

The critics in Westminster are claiming it's all a put up job to get the government through its worst bad patch yet, and that when the chips are down Mr Blair will again fudge the issue.

As one declared: "It would be nice if he fulfilled some of the promises in the last election manifesto before he started making promises about the next one."

Of course, it is quite possible Mr Blair has struck a good, populist issue and is now determined to press ahead with it.

Only time will tell.

Girls behaving badly?

Some of the more old fashioned, and probably sexist, MPs and political journalists are irritated by an outbreak of girl power in Westminster.

A group of around a dozen women political lobby journalists regularly meet to lunch MPs, probe press officers and so on.

It is a formidable group which often breaks stories and appears hugely professional.

However, there have been complaints from some male colleagues that they are being denied access to some women MPs who will only talk to one of the group. Couldn't be a bit of jealousy here, could there?

Anyway, the most recent meeting was "convened" by William Hague's spin doctor Amanda Platell and gives an interesting insight into how she operates.

In order to ensure that the maximum number of "Lobbyettes", as she has dubbed them, turned up for the lunch, she stuck the invitation on the mirror in the ladies lavatory in the press gallery.

Sure enough there was almost full attendance and the assembled group were given a couple of pointers from Ms Platell on how to ply their trade.

The most fascinating was that "men who are sweet and useful are the best ones to know".

Well, Alan Titchmarsh is obviously sweet and very useful around the garden - but I don't think that's quite what she meant.

A virtual mayor

Disgraced Tory peer Jeffrey Archer may be out of the party and awaiting possible legal proceedings over his attempt to cook up a false alibi 13 years ago during the Monica Coughlan affair, but he is still alive and kicking on the world wide web.

Lord Archer still on the web

The "London Forum" website - run by his right hand man Stephan Shakespeare and which was a front for his campaign to be London mayor - is still, inexplicably, operating.

Admittedly, nothing has been posted on it for a long time and Mr Shakespeare has now set up his own political website, but it's still disconcerting to read articles by the peer outlining his views on "civic responsibility".

Spinning a round

Tony Blair's spin doctor Alastair Campbell may be a teetotaller nowadays but he is still ready to stand a hefty round.

A group of around 20 students recently visited Labour HQ at Millbank Tower but were kept hanging around in the lobby.

Ali suddenly strode into the building, realised they might be getting a bit fed up and declared: "right, everybody down the road for a free beer".

Now that's how to spin.

Red light

One of Westminster's esteemed political journalists was recently taken aback by a new outbreak of apparent courtesy on the railways.

He walked onto the platform at London Bridge with his bicycle, as usual, to wait for his train home.

To his immense surprise the PA system suddenly leapt into life and the announcer asked if the man on platform 5 would tun off his rear light.

It took him a few moments to realise this announcement had not been sparked by a desire to be helpful and save his battery, but a desperate fear that an incoming train might mistake the red light for a stop signal and slam on its brakes, risking an accident.

Red lights and red faces all around.

Keep the Dome

Considering the bad publicity the Millennium Dome has been receiving of late, it was surprising to hear of a campaign to keep it in public hands when it comes to the end of its life.

The Dome could have another lease of life

The organiser wants the building to be used for future high profile events such as the anniversary of the Great Exhibition next year or the Queen's golden jubilee in 2002.

Around 100 MPs have been lobbied to whip up support for the notion. Sadly, only one has so far shown any sign of interest, former whip and Salvation Army stalwart Derek Foster.

Perhaps he sees the Dome as an excellent new Sally Army soup kitchen. It could do worse.

Gossip

If you have any political gossip or information on what our MPs are up to, e-mail Nick Assinder (all mails will be treated as confidential).