WANSTEAD and Leyton MP Harry Cohen has denied that he is planning to reject Labour's election manifesto and stand on the policies of a Socialist Campaign Group.

John McDonnell, who is chairman of a partnership of left-wing Labour MPs who oppose much of the New Labour agenda, said members would be prepared to stand as "change candidates" if Prime Minister Gordon Brown fails to adopt their policies before the next general election.

The group, which includes Mr Cohen, as well as Hackney's Diane Abbot and Walthamstow's Neil Gerrand, want Mr Brown to commit to restoring trade union rights abolished by Margaret Thatcher, building new council houses, abolishing student fees and rejecting a third runway at Heathrow.

In a statement to the Guardian however, Mr Cohen confirmed his loyalty to the party.

He said: "Labour needs to unite as much as possible to get us through the economic recession and the political crisis.

"I was at the Parliamentary Labour Party meeting to give support to Gordon Brown, against his detractors, in the current circumstances.

"We must not panic. We must get on with the job.

"We must point out, without distractions, that the Tories would cut public provision (NHS, police, schools, jobs support) to a really damaging extent, they would not help people through the recession, and after it would not share the burden of restoring public finances fairly.

"The philosophy of light touch or no regulation of the finance capitalists has to be permanently put it the dustbin by Labour."

He added: "I agree with all Labour Party policies that have been reached democratically.”