Police have demanded the head of Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, as they prepared to ballot on the right to strike over pay.
The Redditch MP was in the firing line after the Police Federation passed a vote of no confidence in her - and called a ballot on potential strike action.
Representatives of 8,000 rank-and-file officers in West Midlands Police slammed Ms Smith as "a dishonourable lady" last night and the federation nationally called for her immediate resignation.
Sergeant Paul Snape, deputy chairman of the West Midlands Police Federation, said: "We want the right to strike in the same way that other public sector workers, such as nurses and teachers, have."
Officers in each of the 43 forces will also hold an historic ballot on whether they want to seek the right to go on strike. They are currently banned from taking industrial action by law.
The Police Federation is also planning to hold a national rally in Redditch, in an effort to increase the pressure on Ms Smith. A second rally will be held in London.
Police are furious at the Government's refusal to backdate a 2.5 per cent pay rise for police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Officers say that because it has been staggered, it will amount to 1.9 per cent in real terms this year.
Downing Street last night said Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, had full confidence in Ms Smith.
Speaking earlier in the House of Commons, Mr Brown stood firm and insisted pay increases must be limited in order to control inflation.
He said: "No policemen and no person across the country would thank us if their pay rise was wiped out by inflation."
But he was challenged by Staffordshire MP Michael Fabricant (Con Lichfield), who pointed out that police in Scotland were to receive the pay rise in full, backdated to September 1.
He protested that a police officer in Linlithgow was now paid more than one in his constituency "for doing exactly the same job".
Mr Brown claimed this had only been achieved by delaying plans to increase police numbers north of the border.
He said: "In Scotland, to pay the police more, the planned increase of 500 policemen has been suspended.
"I know what my constituents and your constituents would prefer more: that there were police on the streets."
The Prime Minister pointed out that police pay had risen by 39 per cent, nine per cent in real terms, since Labour came to power.
The unprecedented decision to consider calling for a right to strike followed an emergency meeting of hundreds of Police Federation delegates in Westminster.
Sgt Snape said: "We represent officers from constables to chief inspectors and right across the board there is a lot of concern about the very dishonourable act of a dishonourable lady - the Home Secretary.
"Officers do not want to go on strike. They want to serve the public. But we want the right to strike in the same way that other public sector workers, such as nurses and teachers, have.
"Every year since 1919 the pay agreement has been ratified by the Home Secretary. The fact that it has not been this year is considered an insult by many officers."
Sgt Snape said he expected scores of officers from the West Midlands and West Mercia constabularies to attend a rally in Redditch, the constituency which is held by Ms Smith with a majority of just 2,000.
Alan Gordon, vice chairman of the Police Federation, said the ballot on industrial rights will take place in the New Year.
He said: "What's coming through from representatives around the country is police officers do not want to go on strike.
"They do not want to do anything that will jeopardise the safety of people in this country."
