Labour's North-East MPs have topped 100 rebellions against Tony Blair as new research suggests backbenchers are growing more restless and ready to revolt.

The region's MPs voted against their own government a total of 101 occasions between the last election and the end of the last session, which finished last month.

Chief troublemaker was Jim Cousins (Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central) with 17 revolts, followed Ronnie Campbell (Blyth Valley) and Bill Etherington (Sunderland North), both with 14.

Frank Cook (Stockton North) came next after 13 revolts, ahead of Doug Henderson (Newcastle-upon-Tyne North) and Gerry Steinberg (City of Durham), both nine.

Seven other local MPs also troubled the Labour whips - including current minister Chris Mullin (Sunderland South) - but less frequently.

The research, by the University of Nottingham, found that Labour MPs - so long mocked as Tony's Cronies - have defied the Prime Minister on 200 separate occasions since 2001.

It makes this current parliament one of the most rebellious in the past century, with twice as many mutinies as in Mr Blair's first, more compliant, term.

By far the biggest rebellion was the 139 Labour MPs who voted against the Iraq invasion in March 2003, the largest backbench revolt for 150 years.

The two other most significant insurrections were the 72 backbenchers who opposed university top-up fees, in January, and the 62 who voted against foundation hospitals in November 2003.

Other notable Labour revolts were over the refusal to ban the smacking of children, fresh curbs on asylum seekers and the lifting of restrictions on casinos.

And, even since the research was completed, there have been further insurrections over identity cards and living wills, with claims they amounted to euthanasia by the back door.

The hard core of 'usual suspects' prepared to defy the government have been joined by more mainstream colleagues, who initially gritted their teeth and followed orders.

And the growing willingness of Labour MPs to stand up and be counted could be crucial if Mr Blair has a drastically reduced majority after the next election.

Philip Cowley, the academic who carried out the research, said: "The revolts then will be so much more dangerous."

However, Mr Cousins still has some way to go before he matches Labour's biggest rebels - Jeremy Corbyn (111 times) and John McDonnell (100).