Gulf with allies widens over military action

Dissent over British support for American military action against Iraq intensified this weekend as the Prime Minister was warned that solidarity with President Bush could cost him the Labour leadership.

Lord Healey, a former Minister of Defence, became the latest in a string of senior Labour figures to express concerns about plans to target Saddam Hussein.

His remarks reflected growing public concern about the war plans as well as brewing opposition among Labour politicians and trade unionists.

"I don't think he [Tony Blair] could survive overwhelming public and party opposition to British support for an American attack. And I think if we didn't support an attack it is very unlikely Bush would carry it out," Lord Healey said.

Michael Cashman MEP, a former EastEnders actor, said: "If there is military action I believe it will be cataclysmic for the government, cataclysmic for the party and cataclysmic for the country. It will split us right down the middle."

These interventions, following disclosures linking Cabinet ministers Margaret Beckett and Robin Cook to anti-war sentiments, came as it emerged that close colleagues of Cherie Booth were to stage a mock "judicial review" into the legality of attacking Iraq.

Two barristers at Matrix, the left-of-centre chambers co-founded by the Prime Minister's wife will argue the legal pros and cons of any action in October. The case against an attack will be made by Rabinder Singh QC, a leading human rights lawyer, and the case in support of war will be led by his colleague, Julian Knowles, who helped advise the convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.

The event, which is being described as a "people's tribunal", has the backing of Rowan Williams, the incoming Archbishop of Canterbury, who will issue a state- ment underlining his opposition to military action.

Yesterday, European foreign ministers – at an EU conference on conflict prevention in Denmark – also warned against precipitate action. Belgian foreign minister Annemie Neyts said the majority of EU states remained unconvinced of the need for military action against Iraq. "It seems to me that the respective positions of the US and the EU are shifting... We are not absolutely convinced that the case has been sufficiently made that that regime deserves to be destroyed."

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, again reiterated the need for Iraq to readmit the United Nations weapons inspectors, thrown out of the country in 1998, and abide by Security Council resolutions.

It is thought that his position, which places its emphasis on finding a diplomatic solution to the crisis, is gaining support within the Labour ranks. A number of Cabinet ministers are said to feel more comfortable with it than the rather more bellicose posturing of the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy has demanded any evidence that Saddam was developing weapons of mass destruction or that he had any links with the 11 September terror attacks should be put in the public domain.

"It will take a great deal to convince Robin that military action against Iraq is necessary. He would want to be satisfied there is manifest danger." A close ally of Robin Cook

"It's deplorable that the world's most powerful nations continue to regard war, and the threat of war, as an acceptable instrument of foreign policy." Dr Rowan Williams

"I can only warn against discussing a war in Iraq without thinking about the consequences, and without having a political concept for the whole Middle East."Germany's Gerhard Schröder

"I told America if you strike at Iraq and leave the Palestinian issue (unresolved), no (Arab) ruler will be able to curb the rising of popular sentiments. Chaos may prevail in the region." Hosni Mubarak of Egypt

"Blair could not survive overwhelming opposition to British support for a US attack. And if we didn't support it, it is very unlikely Bush would carry it out."Lord (Denis) Healey