BRITAIN: The British Defence Secretary, Mr Geoff Hoon, was bitterly attacked by Labour MPs last night after signalling his readiness to allow the US to use the RAF Fylingdales radar station for its controversial missile defence system.
Mr Hoon told the Commons that his "preliminary conclusion" was to agree to a United States request to upgrade the early warning station on the North Yorkshire moors to form part of its "Son of Star Wars" defensive shield.
Critics on Labour's backbenches - already deeply unhappy over the stand-off with Iraq - angrily accused the Defence Secretary of a "slavish devotion" to the US which would add further to global instability.
Many MPs were furious that the government had reached a decision less than a month after receiving a formal request from the Americans to use RAF Fylingdales, despite promising full consultation with parliament.
Mr Hoon insisted that the final decision had still not been taken, but MPs were convinced it would be little more than a formality.
Former defence minister Mr Peter Kilfoyle - now an outspoken critic of the Mr Blair's government - accused him of accepting any "crackpot notion" put forward by the "ideologues in Washington".
"His slavish devotion to American policy in this area adds further to global destabilisation," he said.
Leftwinger Ms Alice Mahon warned ministers were pursuing a "dangerous path", adding: "It is absolutely dreadful that once again we acquiesce to President Bush's request in opposition to the people who elected us." she said.
Ms Diane Abbott demanded: "When George Bush says 'jump' is our only response 'how high'?"
The former foreign office minister Mr Tony Lloyd warned that the development of the system by the US - initially aimed at countering the threat of an attack from North Korea - would lead China to acquiring more ballistic missiles.
Mr Michael Clapham claimed that development of the system was being driven by the "military-industrial complex" in the United States.
Mr Alan Simpson accused the British government of behaving like the "51st state" of America.