Rumours of a workers' take-over of management at petticoated.com, the northern publishing house owned by dyed-in-the-wool Tory Susan MacDonald, are gaining monentum. 

'Slave Owner Susan', as she is known in local Labour party branches in England's north east, has lobbied for the removal of the 'bolshie' May Day holiday, introduced by Harold Wilson's Labour government in the 1970s to placate the far left members of the party. 

Unexpectedly, prime minister Tony Blair has aceded to her request. Labour die-hards believe that this agreement between two noted political foes may be the result of the Blairs' visit to the Grimsby headquarters of petticoated.com last year. 

Mr Blair has announced that May Day will be replaced by National Petticoat Day, on which women workers only will enjoy a public holiday, although men will also take paid leave from their place of work, but will be expected to spend the day spring cleaning their houses, and generally looking after their womenfolk. 

After their visit to the petticoated.com printing works it is reported that Mrs Blair became very interested in petticoating techniques, and it is believed that she has tried them on her husband and been delighted with his response. It has given her real power in the day-to-day running of government and has made their home life more harmonious. 

With the first Petticoat Day only a month away, it has been reported in London that great stores such as Selfridge's and Harrods are receiving enquiries for the sale of

Women appear to have checked out Miss MacDonald's theories that men become more compliant and loving when dressed in frilly petticoats, and are eager to try the theory out on their husbands and sons. 

The local Marks and Spencer's has also reported a lot of interest in Petticoat Day, and there has been an upsurge in lingerie sales, especially bloomers and panty girdles, which are traditionally low volume sales. Photographs of women fighting over the remaining pairs of ruffled long-leg bloomers were reminiscent of the new year sales of forty years ago. 

In Scotland, stores in Edinburgh, Glascow and Aberdeen have reported a rise in sales of lingerie and knee length tartan skirts. Black skirts, white blouses, and aprons are also reported to be selling well. 
 

Women's underwear manufacturers are calling on Euro-MPs to try to influence Brussels to introduce the new holiday throughout the European Union. 

Miss MacDonald, a canny and tight-fisted Scot well-known to 'Guardian' readers, has stated that all male members of staff at her business will be expected to turn up for work on May the first. She added that the wives of these men already received plenty of help in the home, and did not require a special day to be set aside for them. 

This move by Susan MacDonald has caused deep divisions amongst the shop floor staff, and insiders have leaked that there is trouble brewing. 

Fellow Scot and Mother of the Chapel Hectorina Gribble has long been regarded as one of the most radical union leaders in Britain, and she has hinted that not all petticoated.com workers are receiving the national minimum wage, and that Miss MacDonald has been reported for flounting this government requirement. 

There are also unconfirmed whispers that the management at petticoated.com may even be overthrown by direct action by the workers

. A spokeswoman for the beleagured company, Miss Marcia Bottomley, is fending off the insistent questions by journalists and TV crews at the company's gates with a statement that 'all is well', and that the April issue of the company's flagship  publication 'Petticoat Discipline Monthly' will soon be on the newsstands. 

Reuters