Blair tries to win over 'virgin rebels' after bruising vote on case for war

Tony Blair will try to win round a group of about 60 "soft rebels" who voted reluctantly against the Government in Wednesday's rebellion.

But ministers are worried that a further 50 or 60 Labour MPs who supported the Government could join the revolt if Mr Blair fails to win a fresh resolution on Iraq at the UN. There are growing fears in the Government that a draft resolution drawn up by Britain, the US and Spain may not secure the backing of the UN Security Council. "There's no momentum building," one British official admitted.

Ministers confirmed yesterday that the rebellion by 121 Labour MPs on Wednesday was bigger than expected. They believe there is little hope of wooing the 59 Labour MPs who voted against a government motion saying Iraq had a "final opportunity" to disarm but will target the "soft rebels" who backed an amendment saying that the case for war was not yet proven. Many of this group, known as "virgin rebels" at Westminster, had not voted against the Government before and have told whips they might be won over by a fresh UN mandate or a verdict by UN inspectors that Saddam Hussein has no intention of disarming.

But Frank Dobson, the former health secretary, predicted a substantial proportion of Labour MPs would not support action unless authorised by the Security Council.

Today, Mr Blair will seek to allay fears of Labour activists about the looming war when he addresses the Welsh Labour conference in Swansea, amid fears many members will tear up their party cards if there is war. The Prime Minister will stress he takes the rebellion seriously but will make clear he will not be deflected from doing "what is right" on Iraq.

There were recriminations yesterday after ministers suggested the rebels' actions had weakened the pressure on President Saddam. Graham Allen, one of the revolt's organisers, wrote to Mr Blair saying such claims were "crude and wrong and damage the Government's credibility in the party and among the general public." He added: "Although we admire and support the way you have urged the Americans to follow the UN route, we are still concerned an early war against Iraq is an American enterprise, whose motives and methods and agenda do not match the interests and values of our country." Labour officials stressed that a majority of the Commons, Labour MPs and Labour backbenchers, had voted in favour of the Government's line.

There was also confusion over whether MPs would have another vote before British troops were involved in action. On Wednesday, Mr Blair promised he would debate the issue "many times" in the event of military action and if there was a new UN resolution. But yesterday, Margaret Beckett, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, said only that the Government would "try to keep in touch".