AS THE Labour leader, Mr Tony Blair, posed with a copy of the Sun newspaper, declaring himself to be "delighted" with its endorsement yesterday, his colleagues expressed reservations over the tabloid's sudden switch in allegiance, wondering whether there was a hidden agenda.
A spokeswoman for Mr Bernie Grant, the left-wing MP for Tottenham who has been repeatedly pilloried by the tabloid for years, expressed his suspicion over their backing and questioned the motives of its proprietor, Mr Rupert Murdoch.
"It makes us a little nervous, to say the least. We are suspicious about the paper's motives, especially when it has been so anti progressive ideas in the past, for it to suddenly switch its allegiance. People aren't stupid, they make up their own minds, regardless of what the Sun says thank God for that," she said.
While the former shadow Northern Ireland Minister, Mr Kevin McNamara said the greatest pleasure for him was watching the Tories' discomfort now that their traditionally loyal supporter of 20 years had also deserted them.
"There is joy amongst the angels of New Labour upon the dirty digger doing penance. I think we are taking more pleasure out of the Tories' discomfort rather than being in raptures at their endorsement. Obviously it helps, you often make strange allies at election times, but we want to win," he added.
Mr Jeremy Corbyn, another left-wing MP, was also sceptical. After recalling that during the 1992 general election, the Sun had instructed its readers not to vote for him, he said his feelings towards the paper would not change. "It is a sexist newspaper and its attacks on people are very damaging," he added.
And as another left-wing MP pointed out, the party's right-wingers were also not too happy with the news. "I would hardly describe it as wonderful," said one, while others wondered "what the deal was."