TORY MP Julie Kirkbride's attempts to find out if little Leo Blair has been given the controversial measles, mumps and rubella vaccine have continued to ruffle feathers.

This week, she managed to get in at Prime Minister's Questions to put the famous baby's dad on the spot.

Tony Blair again refused to say whether Leo had had the jab, saying it was a private matter.

But, while this tactic may have failed, she has succeeded in dragging Mr Blair's sister-in-law and a host of other Government Ministers into the debate.

Lauren Booth revealed that - like Julie - she had refused to let doctors give her child the MMR jab.

In a boost to the MP, she said: "When it comes to MMR, the Department of Health and many GPs are more attuned to the bullying tactics of Labour whips than the deep rooted fears of the average parent."

Ms Booth's outspoken remarks gave the story a new lease of life - and turned the spotlight on to Redditch's Jacqui Smith.

A national newspaper contacted Jacqui, along with her Ministerial colleagues in the Department of Health, to ask if her two children had been given the jab.

Jacqui was not impressed and gave the same answer as Tony Blair. "I'm not answering questions about my children."

Bromsgrove MP Julie is a long-standing opponent of MMR and last week revealed she had "thrown away" an invitation to give her own 14-month-old son, Angus, the jab.

The Department of Health has repeatedly insisted that MMR, rather than single injections, is the best and most effective way to protect children against measles, mumps and rubella.

But about 2,000 families in Britain have taken legal action, claiming their children have been damaged by the jab, with many believing it has triggered autism and bowel disorders.