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# The plot thickens
- URL: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/the-plot-thickens/
- Published: 2008-09-13T12:09:02.000Z
- Updated: 2019-02-14T22:41:38.000Z
- Author: Tom Griffin
- Tags: #en, #Migrated, #Import 2026-04-09 18:41

**Tom Griffin (London,** [**OK**](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom)**):** This weekend's events in the Labour Party are looking more and more like an attempt at repeating the [Brownite coup against Tony Blair ](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk%5Fpolitics/5319328.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net)of 2006\. Following Siobhan McDonagh's resignation as a junior whip yesterday, Party vice-chair Joan Ryan and former minister George Howarth have [called for a leadership election](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7613701.stm?ref=opendemocracy.net).

Significantly, Howarth is also one of 12 MPs who have demanded a change of direction in [Progress Magazine](http://www.progressives.org.uk/Magazine/article.asp?a=3351&ref=opendemocracy.net), the organ of what, with [apologies to Charles Clarke](http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2008/09/labour-blair-british-current?ref=opendemocracy.net), is generally seen as the Blairite caucus within the party.