BRITAIN: Mr Tony Blair was rocked by rebellion last night as some 122 Labour MPs defied him over Iraq and declared the case for war "as yet unproven". The scale of the rebellion took British government whips by surprise and cast a pall of gloom over 10 Downing Street, as the division at the end of a day-long debate on the international crisis showed one-third of the House of Commons unwilling to back military action at this time.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Mr Charles Kennedy, hailed the result "a significant and potent symbol" of continuing parliamentary and public reluctance to support war without a second resolution giving the explicit authority of the United Nations.
There were gasps in the Commons chamber as the tellers confirmed the result of the first vote, on an amendment to the pro-government motion, declaring the case for war "as yet unproven". While Mr Blair carried the day - defeating the rebel motion by 393 to 199 - it was immediately clear that a significant number of the non-payroll or governmental Labour vote had gone into the opposition lobby. And the rebellion carried through to the main vote on the motion supporting the government's continuing efforts to disarm President Saddam Hussein through the United Nations, when an estimated hard-core of 59 Labour MPs registered their outright opposition to Mr Blair's policy on Iraq. The government, with Conservative backing, won the second vote by 434 to 124.
Government whips had worked hard throughout the day to minimise the rebellion, armed with a promise by the Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, that MPs would have another opportunity to vote one way or the other on the case for military action.
Opening the debate, Mr Straw had insisted the government was not seeking a mandate for war in last night's vote, although - for operational reasons and having regard to the safety of troops involved - he was again unable to assure MPs they would have the opportunity to vote before the Prime Minister took the decision to commit troops.
However Labour MPs heard former cabinet minister, Mr Chris Smith, warn that to back the government would signal acceptance of a timetable in place "which leads, I fear, inexorably to war within the next three to four weeks". Many instinctively shared the belief of another former minister, Mr Peter Kilfoyle, that the decision for war had been taken "not in Downing Street" but "in the White House". And the seal on the largest rebellion of Mr Blair's premiership was almost certainly set before the debate itself got under way when, during questioning by the Conservative leader Mr Iain Duncan Smith, Mr Blair appeared to suggest that any veto exercised at the UN Security Council would in his definition be "unreasonable". Mr Duncan Smith asked Mr Blair if it followed from his statement to parliament on Tuesday that any veto of a second resolution would be unreasonable. Mr Blair replied: "It certainly would be an unreasonable veto if Iraq is in material breach and we don't pass a resolution, because Resolution 1441 made it absolutely clear that Iraq had a final opportunity to comply." Repeating that a failure to act would put the authority of the UN on the line, Mr Blair added: "If it \ isn't complying, then it is in breach and that is why I believe that, in the end, it [a resolution\] will issue." Having promised his MPs he would be working "flat out" to secure that second UN resolution, doubtful Labour MPs have served notice on Mr Blair of the risks that could lie-in-wait for him should he fail to secure it.
Downing Street last night had the reassurance that the Commons votes were largely symbolic - with the government motion not actually seeking endorsement of war at this point, and the opposition amendment formally seeking more time for UN weapons inspectors while not either precluding the possibility of war.