Two Labour MPs have found themselves acting in protest against how their own government's policies are affecting them in their own back yard. Are these usual-suspect lefties? Or occasional rebels? No, both are ultra-Blairites.
First, Labour Party Chairperson Hazel Blears protested against cuts in her local hospital in Salford.
Then, Karen Buck withdrew her son from his Academy school, complaining at the appalling standard of education he had received.
Is this a sign of deep unhappiness at New Labour policy in health and education? Certainly.
So are these MPs heroes of ordinary folk, standing up against their own party's excesses? Some may think so, but I don't. Both of them seem more than happy to impose these appalling policies on other people's children and other constituencies' hospitals, just not their own. They think they can support a policy but oppose its inevitable consequences. Both seem to think they can enjoy the patronage of the Labour leadership but opportunistically pick up some local support too.
Blears has the added incentive of securing one of the two seats that will remain in Salford after the forthcoming boundary changes amalgamate the existing three. And the young Buck's change of school will be eased by the fact that he is transferring to Quintin Kynaston school (famed for victimising one of its teaching assistants), an over-subscribed local establishment that loads of parents struggle to get their kids into, but which magically found a spare place available for an MP's son over Christmas.
Frankly, the whole thing stinks.
Indeed
You can read Hazel's own report of her venture into opportunist megaphone-wielding here.
Interestingly, her site is currently running a poll on whether everyone should have to carry ID cards, and when I cast my vote, it was running at over 80% No. Will we see her on a 'No 2 ID' protest next?!