HUDDERSFIELD MP Barry Sheerman led a backbench revolt against Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown.

The Labour MP - celebrating 25 years in Westminster this year - was among backbenchers who demanded that the top pair end their petty squabbles for the good of the party and the country.

The face to face confrontation came at a private meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party , attended by more than 400 MPs and Peers.

Mr Sheerman and other backbench MPs told Blair and Brown to end their "shenanigans".

Mr Sheerman said: "A lot of people have been concerned that the shenanigans between Mr Blair and Mr Brown are damaging the party.

"I told them frankly that they had to sort it out.

"I told them they were brilliant for the country when they work together but if the current behaviour carries on we will suffer. I said that MPs would neither forgive nor forget.

"We need to get back to where we were in 1997 when the country was excited by our pledges. Blair and Brown have laid wonderful foundations; now it is time to see what the architect can do on top of those.

"I did bang heads together, as did other MPs, and I think the message got across."

The Chancellor was today seeking to quieten speculation about bitter infighting among the Labour leadership when he was joining Alan Milburn - Labour's General Election co-ordinator - to help launch a new poster campaign.

Mr Brown and Mr Milburn were being joined by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to publicise the campaign, which will focus on the Government's economic record.

Relations between Mr Brown and Mr Milburn are widely thought to have been cool since Mr Blair brought former Health Secretary Mr Milburn back into the Cabinet to run the election campaign - Mr Brown's job in 1997 and 2001.

Subsequently, Mr Milburn is said to have been locked in a tussle with Mr Brown over whether Labour's election strategy should focus on highlighting the Treasury's economic record, or concentrate on the need for further radical reform of the welfare state and public services.

Mr Brown said: "This campaign draws attention not just to our record, but to a Tory record of high interest rates, high inflation, two recessions and three million unemployed.

"That choice between stability and boom and bust, jobs or tolerating unemployment, investment or cuts, is central to the political fight ahead."

Mr Blair, tackling the stories about renewed tensions with Mr Brown, said at last night's meeting: "I know from everyone here, in Cabinet and Government, nothing is going to get in the way of a unified Labour Party with a unified position and winning the third term people desperately need."

LABOUR retains a healthy lead over the Tories and Tony Blair's personal ratings are on the rise, according to a new poll.

The Populus poll for The Times found that despite the renewed feuding between the camps of Mr Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown, 38% would vote Labour if there were a General Election tomorrow - up one percentage point.

The Tories, on 33%, and the Liberal Democrats, on 20%, were unchanged.

On a 10-point leadership rating scale, Mr Blair scored 5.07, up from 4.85 in November. Tory leader Michael Howard's score was virtually unchanged on 4.58, while Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy had 4.95.

Among Labour supporters, Mr Blair's rating increased from 6.82 to 7.24 over that period.

Chancellor Gordon Brown remains the overwhelming favourite of voters generally and Labour supporters in particular to succeed Mr Blair.

Some 45% of the public, and 58% of Labour voters, regarded Mr Brown as the best choice.

Populus interviewed 1,506 adults by telephone.

Another poll, by NOP for The Independent, suggested Labour would enjoy a significant boost if Mr Brown, rather than Mr Blair, led the party.

It indicated that the Chancellor could increase Labour's ratings by a third - winning over voters who are undecided or who would back the Liberal Democrats if Mr Blair remained leader.

NOP found that, under Mr Blair, Labour could rely on the definite support of 23% of the electorate, with the Tories on 18% and the Liberal Democrats on 12%.

When people were asked how they would vote if Mr Brown were the leader, the party's support rose to 31%, the Tories remained on 18% and the Liberal Democrats dropped two points to 10%.

NOP interviewed 951 people across Britain.