The British government's Chief Whip last night began "a heavy verbal dressing down" of the 47 rebel Labour MPs who took part in the major Commons revolt over benefit cuts for lone parents.
However, Mr Nick Brown made clear that there would be no suspensions from the party, even for those backbenchers with a long history of dissent and despite earlier heavy threats by some Labour officials.
But there is a "possibility" that three of the rebels - Mr Brian Sedgemore (Hackney South and Shoreditch), Dr John Marek (Wrexham) and Mr Bob Wareing (Liverpool West Derby) - could be referred to Labour's ruling National Executive Committee.
The government remained resolute that it would not be deflected from its programme of getting single mothers off welfare and into work and would press ahead with the benefit changes inherited from the Tories.
"Anybody who thinks there will be a reversion from principles and policies on which we were elected is wrong," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
"MPs can express their views, but in the end a government will govern and the Prime Minister will stick to tough decisions if it means economic stability for the long term, expanding opportunity to those denied it, and modernising the welfare state."
Privately, whips have recognised that they can only stretch the loyalty card so far after Wednesday's vote, which saw the resignation of one minister and the departure of a clutch of ministerial aides.
Buoyed by the surprising strength of the rebellion, some Labour parliamentarians fired a further warning shot to the leadership against imposing any more benefit cuts.
A Labour MP and Labour peer warned that any tinkering with benefits for the disabled would make the lone parent benefit controversy look tame.
Mr Blair stressed at this morning's Cabinet meeting that some Labour rebels opposed the changes in the party that had helped to win the general election.
He said they had been elected as New Labour and now they would govern as New Labour and the "welfare to work" programme had been an integral part of the manifesto.
The Social Security Secretary, Ms Harriet Harman, added that it was now the government's job to explain the case for the measures.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman emphasised that Ms Harman had done "a very good job".
However, Labour rebels remained unrepentant. One of its prominent dissenters, Mr Ken Livingstone, accused the Treasury of wanting to destroy the welfare state.
Ms Alice Mahon, who was sacked as a ministerial aide for voting against the government, and Mr Malcolm Chisholm, who resigned as a minister, insisted that a benefit system was needed that provided for those who for a variety of reasons are not in work.