MPs accuse Government of fixing vote on Iraq

Left-wing MPs have accused the Government of trying to fix today's Commons vote on Iraq by tabling a "bland" motion.

Anti-war backbenchers claim that at least 100 MPs would have opposed Britain joining an American-led attack on Iraq had they been allowed a straight-forward vote on the issue.

The Commons will be asked to support a government motion backing the UN resolution requiring Iraq to comply with weapons inspections.

More than 50 Labour MPs opposed the Government in the last vote on Iraq two months ago. Alice Mahon, MP for Halifax, said the number could have been doubled in the latest vote had ministers not tabled such a "bland" motion.

She said: "We know a large number of Labour MPs oppose going to war in Iraq with America. The Government has been rather cowardly in its approach." Ms Mahon said she feared the vote would be used to justify war.

Alan Simpson, MP for Nottingham South, said: "This is government by deceit. We have a motion that has been drawn up in the narrowest possible terms to preclude an anti-war vote."

Tam Dalyell, the Linlithgow MP, has tabled a motion backing the UN resolution but adding that military action by British forces must be explicitly approved in advance by the Commons. But it is unlikely to go to a vote because the Conservatives are prepared to table a separate amendment.

Geoff Hoon, the Secretary of State for Defence, will spell out details of an American request for Britain, and other nations, to have troops ready for a possible invasion of Iraq.