ABSTRACT
The article details and analyses the rebellions by Labour MPs that have occurred since the election of the Blair government. Labour MPs are currently rebelling infrequently, both in absolute terms and in comparison to most of the recent parliaments, although there is nothing exceptional about their behaviour when compared to all post-war parliaments. When they do rebel, however, they are doing so in respectable numbers. Given that first sessions of parliaments are traditionally quiet there is the clear potential for further rebellion. The newly-elected MPs are the most loyal, with the newly-elected women even more loyal than the newly-elected men. And there are few surprise names among those who choose to rebel, especially those who choose to rebel frequently: most could be (and, indeed, were) identified by their behaviour in the last parliament.
