CHESHIRE MP Andrew Miller celebrated giving Gordon Brown a bloody nose yesterday when his Bill to stamp out the “exploitation” of agency workers won overwhelming backing.

Nearly 140 Labour MPs defied the Prime Minister to ensure the legislation –

to give up to 1.4 m temporary staff the same pay and conditions as full-time employees – cleared its first Commons hurdle.

Downing Street had joined forces with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) to warn that Mr Miller’s Bill would harm business. The CBI claimed it would cost 250,000 jobs.

But that plea was ignored by 136 Labour MPs, who also fear cheap agency staff – often immigrants – are harming community relations, by undermining the wages and conditions of existing workers.

Asked afterwards if he would now be unpopular with Mr Brown, Mr Miller, the Ellesmere Port and Neston MP, replied: “Well, he can’t sack me, can he!”

Among his backers were Joe Benton (Bootle), Ben Chapman (Wirral South), Frank Field (Birkenhead), Mike Hall (Weaver Vale), George Howarth (Knowsley North and Sefton East), Peter Kilfoyle (Liverpool Walton) and Helen Southworth (Warrington South).

The show of strength reflected backbench and trade union anger that, despite a 2004 commitment by Tony Blair to act on the plight of agency workers, the Government has blocked progress at an EU-wide level.

Trade unions quote widespread examples of staff working for years alongside colleagues on much higher salaries, while being denied the chance to become permanent employees.

Business leaders believe staff should work for six months before equal rights apply.The doomed EU directive suggested six weeks.

However, yesterday’s vote in favour of the Temporary and Agency Workers (Equal Treatment) Bill – by 147 votes to 11, a majority of 136 – only sends it into its committee stage, where it will be debated in greater detail.

It still faces an uphill fight to become law, because the Government can deny it time and slow its progress by tabling amendments. The Bill is also opposed by the Conservatives.

Nevertheless, a delighted Mr Miller said: “How can it be right for people to work alongside each other with the same

skills, doing precisely the same task, and yet one category of employee is worth less than another?”