What if he gets elected as the PLP chairman?

After a day at Westminster dominated by the clashes involving Ed Balls over his appointment of the children’s commissioner a lot of attention is being focussed on the veteran MP, Barry Sheerman.

At the weekend it was reported that he’s thinking of being a stalking horse in next month’s election for the chairmanship of the parliamentary Labour party so MPs can have a mean of showing their feelings about the leadership.

Then this morning he was attacking Ed Balls for being a “bit of a bully” and this afternoon he was scathing in the commons about the childrens’ secretary for over-ruling his all-party committee on the children’s commissioner appointment.

At the same time PaddyPower opened a market on the coming PLP election and made Sheerman the 7/4 second favourite behind the incumbent Tony Lloyd on evens.

The election is by secret ballot and the Sheerman plan is said to provide a means whereby Labour MPs can express their view of the Brown leadership without having to go public.

So far nominations have not opened and things might look differently when the ballot actually takes place. But there can be no doubt that Sheerman is stepping up the ante.

Mike Smithson