From the Open Europe press summary:
"Furious" Geoff Hoon threatens pro-referendum Labour MPs with expulsion
The Sunday Times reported that three Labour supporters of the I Want a Referendum campaign face suspension from the parliamentary Labour party unless they distance themselves from the group, which plans to stoke the debate on the Constitutional Treaty by running mini-referendums in the seats of anti-referendum MPs, including that of Europe Minister Jim Murphy.
Gisela Stuart, Frank Field and Kate Hoey were each summoned for an angry rebuke by Geoff Hoon, the Government Chief Whip, and were told that their behaviour was "disgraceful". One MP said: "Geoff was absolutely furious. He never normally raises his voice, but you could hear the noise two rooms away.
"Kate Hoey said "I find it very sad that my party's Chief Whip, a former Defence Secretary, thinks he has to resort to shouting at Labour MPs who simply want their party to honour its commitment to a referendum that we made to the electorate in our last election manifesto." She added, "I am happy to be involved in an all-party campaign to remind all parties of this manifesto commitment."
PA quotes Frank Field as saying: "I'm surprised at the ineptness of the leadership in trying to expel people from the Parliamentary Labour Party for keeping their election promises. You would think they would be taken off to the lunatic asylum." According to the Sunday Times, Field said: "The chief whip suggested we should instead campaign in Liberal seats. I am happy to take that idea on board. I am in the business of ensuring that Labour fulfills its manifesto pledge." The story was also picked up in the Birmingham Post, which notes that Gisela Stuart dismissed reports that Hoon had threatened to withdraw the party whip. Telegraph Epolitix IWR press release
