LABOUR’S parliamentary high command is considering calls from loyalist MPs and party activists to take disciplinary action against the “serial rebels” who are threatening the Government’s legislative programme.

Hilary Armstrong, the Chief Whip, is being urged by senior backbenchers, and even members of her own whips’ office, to move against some of the high-profile figures — the favoured target is Bob Marshall-Andrews, MP for Medway — to discourage others from believing they can rebel with impunity.

According to senior figures in the parliamentary party, there is more likelihood of punitive action than at any time since 1997.

In a parallel move experienced MPs are being asked to “lean on” their younger colleagues to warn them of the dangers of becoming regular dissenters. There is alarm that six members of the 2005 new intake of Labour MPs voted against the Government in the terror vote on Wednesday, with four rebelling for the first time. Recent history suggests that when MPs begin their careers in a rebellious fashion, the habit continues.

At the same time loyalist MPs are expected to turn on the rebels at party meetings next week, warning them that they are endangering the party’s and their own chances of re-election. The moves to crack down on dissidents will be accompanied by a sustained Cabinet effort to sell the reforming legislation that may be the focus of revolts over the next few months.

At Tony Blair’s bidding, all Cabinet ministers will make the case to backbenchers, explaining how the proposed changes are consistent with the new Labour ethos, listening to their concerns. The talks will happen before the legislation is published to avoid charges that MPs are being dragooned into supporting it. “When it comes to the Education Bill it will not just be Blair and Ruth Kelly out there presenting it. All of them will be involved because all of them were involved in drawing it up.”

After Wednesday’s first defeat for a Labour government since 1979, ministers have accepted that more must be done to reassure the genuine worries of MPs.

But there is a growing belief that more may have to be done on the discipline side. The rebels are broadly split into “ultras” who vote against the Government on most occasions when it matters, the malcontents who are usually ex-ministers who have never got over their dismissals and vote against the Government to speed Mr Blair’s departure, and the genuine rebels who feel strongly on individual issues. David Winnick, whose 28-day detention amendment was passed on Wednesday, is the classic example of a loyalist pushed too far on one issue.

Ms Armstrong is understood to be considering this weekend whether action can be taken. Mr MarshallAndrews is deeply unpopular with his colleagues not only because of his voting record — he rebelled 134 times between 1997 and 2005, and 20 times already in this Parliament — but because he is often seen talking to Conservative MPs, and is accused of being happier in their company than that of his own side.

Breaking a three-line whip constitutes a disciplinary offence but in the past whips have avoided doing anything against such people for fear of making them martyrs. But some highly placed figures are now saying that he should be made an example of by having the whip withdrawn. “Let him be a martyr. Martyrs die,” an MP told The Times last night. The four MPs from the 2005 intake who voted against the Government for the first time were Siân James, Sadiq Khan, Sir Peter Soulsby and Emily Thornberry. Two other members of the 2005 intake, Katy Clark and Linda Riordan, have already clocked up rebellions running into double figures. The four will be told in no uncertain terms that if they have any hopes of getting on in Parliament, either under Mr Blair or the next leader, they should desist.

A senior MP said that his constituency party was furious with Labour MPs for going on television and attacking the Prime Minister six months after a general election. “All I am getting from my local party is what the hell we are going to do about these traitors — that’s the word they use.”

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