MPs ready to demand scalp of Black Rod

Labour MPs last night called for Sir Michael Willcocks, Black Rod, to be sacked if he is implicated in claims that Tony Blair tried to hijack the Queen Mother's funeral.

Senior government sources were also furious with Black Rod for the so-called "killer memo" which destroyed Alastair Campbell's chances of a victory against the press over the claims before the Press Complaints Commission.

The Labour backlash against Black Rod could prove damaging for the Government if Sir Michael emerges as a champion of free speech, but Labour MPs claimed Sir Michael was part of an Establishment attack to undermine the Prime Minister and New Labour's spin doctors.

The veteran left-winger Alice Mahon said: "If there is any evidence at all that Black Rod has intervened politically in this controversy, I think he should go."

Mrs Mahon and another left-winger, Ann Clwyd, telephoned Mr Campbell last week to urge him not to resign. Speaking later to The Independent on Sunday, Mrs Mahon said: "There is real anger about the way they are going for Campbell. They want another scalp after Stephen Byers.

"I have had row after row with Alastair Campbell but I don't like this Establishment getting together and deciding they are going to get him. The Establishment hate Labour and they are going for us."

Ministerial aides are also convinced certain sections of the parliamentary lobby – the group of journalists who attend regular briefings at No 10 – were also seeking revenge because Mr Campbell is dismantling the traditional lobby system.

He has announced that their regular morning briefings are to be thrown open to a wider group of journalists. Daily afternoon briefings for the lobby are believed to be under threat and Mr Blair is planning the first of his monthly open press conferences at Downing Street next week as part of the strategy for outflanking the lobby.

The Government is wary of giving any hint that it supports the attacks on Black Rod, who is regarded as "untouchable". However, senior sources inside the Government confirmed there is deep anger at the behaviour of Black Rod. His office had initially issued a statement saying that there had been no attempt by Downing Street to change the arrangements for the Queen Mother's funeral. They are questioning why he subsequently made it clear to the PCC that he believed pressure had been put on him to give Mr Blair a more prominent role.

Mr Campbell decided to take the claims by The Spectator and some newspapers to the PCC when he read Black Rod's initial statement but was forced to retreat when Sir Michael's detailed account was conveyed to the PCC disputing Downing Street version of events.

The row is showing no signs of dying down, and Mr Blair next week will seek to refocus the Government on its delivery of public services.

However, there was at least some consolation for Downing Street on Friday night when its football team, which is captained by the Prime Minister's official spokesman, Godric Smith, beat the lobby team 5-2.