Blair faces anger over bid to place loyalists in safe seats

Tony Blair is facing a backlash from the Labour Party over attempts to impose Downing Street loyalists in safe seats before the general election.

Party insiders claim pressure is being put on long-serving MPs to stand down to allow No10 staffers a chance of entering Parliament.

Plymouth Devonport MP David Jamieson is expected to announce today he is to quit at the next election. His seat has been earmarked by Downing Street as a possible berth for Patrick Diamond, Alan Milburn's special adviser, or Matthew Taylor, Mr Blair's policy chief.

Mr Jamieson's departure follows resignation announcements last week of Derek Foster in Bishop Auckland and Kevin Hughes in Doncaster-North. Insiders claim Downing Street is trying to "parachute" in favoured Blairites, with No 10 special adviser Liz Lloyd and Mr Blair's deputy political secretary Razi Rahman being touted for the seats.

Labour MPs have warned that Downing Street's crude attempts to find safe seats for Mr Blair's own team will infuriate the rank and file members.