Labour whips seek to defuse threatened backbench rebellion

A cross-party coalition of MPs last night tabled an amendment to the Government's motion on Iraq, saying that the case for war had not yet been made.

Up to 100 MPs are expected to vote for the amendment, agreed by two former Labour ministers and several senior Tories, as well as SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs. Chris Smith, a former Labour culture secretary, and Peter Kilfoyle, a former Labour defence minister, put their names to the amendment, which said: "The case for military action against Iraq is as yet unproven."

Douglas Hogg, a Tory former cabinet minister, and Edward Leigh, chairman of the CommonsPpublic Accounts Committee, signed the amendment. The Liberal Democrats refused to put their names to the amendment and will table their own today.

Graham Allen, a former government whip, said there was still time to pull back from war. "I do not believe this is the final opportunity. We should work for peace using every possible avenue, not take a step towards war which is not necessary," he said. "We should stick with the strategy of threats and containment."

Tony Blair will today try to head off the embarrassing cross-party rebellion. Labour whips launched an intense operation aimed at persuading potential rebels to support the Government after the Commons debates Iraq tomorrow. But many Labour MPs vowed to reject the whips' pressure, warning that this could be Parliament's last chance to express its reservations on a war.

In a Commons statement today, Mr Blair will stress that he does not want a war but will say that Saddam Hussein, after denying the will of the international community for 12 years, can now make "a choice for peace". Mr Blair's talk of a "push for peace" has angered Labour's anti-war rebels, who believe the bland motion to be debated tomorrow will be used retrospectively by the Prime Minister to claim the Commons has endorsed his Iraq strategy. The motion, tabled last night, makes no specific mention of military action but supports the Government's attempts to disarm Iraq through the UN and reiterates support for resolution 1441.

Robin Cook, the Leader of the Commons, assured MPs that tomorrow's vote was not "an attempt to try and secure by subterfuge any approval for military action". Mr Cook said it would be the Government's "intention" and "preference" to have a further Commons vote before British troops were involved in action.

Labour rebels recalled that Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, and Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, had said a vote might not take place before military action if that would put British forces at risk.

Mr Blair held talks on Iraq yesterday with Iain Duncan Smith, the Tory leader, and the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. Mr Blair insisted during the meetings that the decision for peace remained with Saddam Hussein. The meetings came a day after Mr Blair had a private audience with the Pope.