The Blair government faced a fresh challenge last night to waive the rules of confidentiality and publish any legal advice it has received about military action against Iraq, writes Frank Millar.
The challenge came from the veteran Labour MP, Mr Tam Dalyell, as the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, met King Abdullah of Jordan, and Downing Street again insisted Britain was not at the point of deciding to commit itself to a US-led assault on President Saddam Hussein.
The Labour chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, Mr Bruce George, warned that President Bush faced a major task in persuading world opinion of the case for a strike against Iraq, and said Mr Blair could face strong opposition in the House of Commons if he committed British forces without first making a convincing argument for military intervention.
Mr George told the BBC a number of tests should be met before any British commitment. Firstly, he said, "the evidence has to be presented that there are weapons of mass destruction in their (Iraq's) possession, and a belief in their willingness to use them."
Secondly, he believed action by the United States to improve the situation in the Middle East "would be really vital" in the development of an international coalition. "If that is not achieved then I feel that all of those countries whose support the US would need will not be there. And military action therefore is likely to be undertaken by a handful of countries with a great deal of international opposition. I certainly wouldn't want to see that."
And while there was no legal or constitutional requirement on a prime minister to seek prior parliamentary approval, Mr George suggested it would be highly desirable for Mr Bush and Mr Blair to seek fresh authority from the United Nations for any action.
In his letter, Mr Dalyell warned Mr Blair that action against Iraq could mean committing Britain to maintain an armed presence in the area for decades to come. "Is it contemplated occupying a resentful Iraq for my expected lifetime, and possibly yours?" he demanded. He urged the prime minister to heed the advice of former chief of the Defence Staff, Lord Bramall, who said while the US had the military might to topple Mr Saddam, it might in the process "pour petrol on the flames" of the troubled Middle East.
Mr Dalyell later wrote to the Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, urging him to waive the convention that legal advice to ministers remain confidential in this case, so that MPs could make an informed judgment on the implications of military action.