I don’t care which hands were forced and who briefed what – our MPs must get out on the doostep tonight

By Wes Streeting / @wesstreeting

Maybe I’m missing something and today’s announcements of Cabinet resignations and MPs standing down are part of a well coordinated effort to get ‘bad news’ out of the way ahead of the launch of Gordon Brown’s national plan to revive the fortunes of the Labour Party and lead the country into the next General Election.

But right now, what senior figures in our Party are doing feels like an almighty smack in the face to Labour activists up and down the country who, in spite of everything, are devoting hours of their free time to get good Labour councillors and MEPs elected.

What possible good reason could these people have for making these self-indulgent announcements as local campaign organisers are getting ready to put out their eve of poll leaflets? Could they not even wait until the close of polls tomorrow night?

If Labour county councillors, who have delivered high quality provision for our people lose tomorrow it will be through no fault of their own. If Labour MEPs who fought to protect the rights of temporary and agency workers lose their seats, while those making the headlines today were complicit in our government dragging its heels on the issue, it will not be because voters are turning against our European Parliamentary Labour Party.

I don’t care who briefed what and whose hand was forced. No doubt the Commons tea room will be filled with speculation today as MPs consider their own fates. While some foolishly believe that the grass must be greener on the other side, perhaps the realisation will soon strike that the fortunes of the Labour Party and the interests of the country will not be served well by a bloody coup and a leadership election that distracts the Party’s attention away from the issues that are affecting people’s lives up and down the country.

Last night, I was out with Labour Students activists in Liverpool Wavertree. In the space of an hour we found a dozen Labour promises that weren’t even on the ID sheet and existing Labour promises that, for some reason, were still willing to turn out for Labour on Thursday. If MPs hitting the headlines were out campaigning for our candidates they’d see that.

MPs need to get out of the tearoom and out on the doorstep.