NO-HEADLINE

Tony Blair condemned one of his own back benchers last night for hosting the launch at the House of Commons of an autobiography by Gerry Adams, president of Sinn Fein. The Labour leader's attack on Jeremy Corbyn, the left wing Labour MP for Islington North, for giving Mr Adams a platform underlined his determination to impose stiffer discipline on Labour MPs.

"I condemn this event without reservation and totally dissociate the Labour Party from it," said the Labour leader. "Gerry Adams is not in any way associated with the Labour Party. He is opposed to the Labour Party's sister part in Northern Ireland and we are in a situation where the IRA has refused to call a ceasefire." Mr Blair's move followed anger from backbench MPs - principally Conservatives - at a loophole which enabled Mr Adams, as a former MP, to use the Commons for his book launch on Thursday provided a sitting MP booked a room. Colin Brown