Most British Labour Party MPs have come out against Prime Minister Mr Blair's stance that war against Iraq is now "inevitable".
A survey of Labour backbench MPs today suggested an overwhelming majority are unconvinced of the need for military action and want Parliament consulted.
Of 100 who agreed to take part in a survey for the BBC Radio 4 Todayprogramme, 88 said there were currently insufficient grounds to declare war. Holding a Commons debate before any decision was taken was supported by 86, and 56 wanted a debate and a vote on the issue at the Labour Party conference later this month.
Veteran Labour MP Tam Dalyell, Father of the House of Commons, said today: "Before he [Mr Blair] talks about blood price, the Prime Minister has a moral duty to recall the House of Commons.
"It is important to recall Parliament so that the diversity of opinion in Britain is clear to American decision-makers. If the chairman of the Intelligence Committee in the Senate cannot be convinced, why on earth should we believe Blair and Bush?" he said.
Labour MP Glenda Jackson said she was "seriously worried" that Britain was sliding into war with Iraq. Joining calls for the recall of Parliament, the former minister said it was "ludicrous" that it had not been debated in the Commons.
"I think it would be extremely serious if we slid into some kind of all-out military action against Iraq," she told BBC Radio 4's Todayprogramme.
PA