BURY North MP David Chaytor joined a 37-strong rebellion against his own Government last night to vote against proposals to part privatise Britain's Air Traffic Control system.

Worsley Labour MP Terry Lewis, who had intended to join the revolt, did not vote as he had to return home to his constituency unwell.

Bolton MPs Ruth Kelly, David Crausby and Brian Iddon supported the Government along with Bury South's Ivan Lewis.

Now, the House of Lords which is attempting to delay any partial sell-off of the National Air Traffic systems until after the election.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will be forced to either use the Parliament Act to drive his Transport Bill through the Upper House in next year's shortened pre-election session, drop the plan from the Bill to get it into law this year, fight the next election with the proposals or scrap it altogether.

Today, one of the leading rebels -- former Transport Minister Gavin Strang, who lost his Cabinet job partly because of his hostility to the partial privatisation -- urged the Government to think again.

He said the size of the rebellion showed the "deep unease" of Labour MPs and the Government should now "walk away from the privatisation with dignity". It would be making a "very big mistake" if it pressed ahead.