Open House, with BILL JACOBS

Blackburn Rovers fans, including Jack Straw, were breathing a sigh of relief today after Ian McCartney kept his job as Chairman of the Labour Party.

The diminutive Makerfield MP had joked before the Cabinet reshuffle that if he lost his job he might apply for the vacancy at Ewood Park where, following Graeme Souness, his Scottish accent wouldn't be a problem.

Labour insiders had tipped the Glaswegian for the chop to make way for Alan Milburn's return to government.

But with a bit of help from Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Chancellor Gordon Brown the Glaswegian stayed in post.

Foreign Secretary and Blackburn MP Mr Straw said: "Ian is a terrific manager and a good friend.

"However, luckily his future, like all politicians, is decided by the Prime Minister and not the by the board of Blackburn Rovers and therefore he is staying at Westminster not looking for a job at Ewood Park."

BURNLEY MP Peter Pike is even keener on Labour's tough law and order policy after coming home from holiday to find his constituency home had been burgled after he had spent two weeks in Canada.

He said: ""I've always been in favour of a tough line on law and order, but like anyone who returns home from holiday to find their house has been broken into, it was a shock and very distressing."

ROSSENDALE and Darwen MP Janet Anderson this week entertained Rossendale town crier Peter Gill and his wife, Christine, to lunch at the House of Commons.

They also got to a tour of Parliament and tickets to watch Prime Minister's Questions from the Strangers Gallery.

He was there as he was doing promotional work for health food company Holland and Barrett when they opened a new store in Islington.

Mrs Anderson said: "It must have been one of the few occasions when I could hardly make myself heard or get a word in edgeways."